Looks at the discussion of a small group of girls (ordinarily reticent or diffident in class) in a senior English class as they interpreted the character of Ophelia in Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Discusses the idea that thinking can develop through dialogic (collaborative) rather than dialectic (conflictive) transactions. Notes classroom…

Public education in the U.S. has failed miserably. A substantial reason for this is that parents are not empowered to shape the course of their children's education. Under a system of choice, schools will improve, having to compete to survive. This paper argues that the responsibility for education should be devolved from the state and vested in…

The superintendent of a wealthy, rural school district describes the unique context of schooling reform in Westchester County, New York. Pressures for reform coming from parents and the community lead to interschool competition and spark micropolitics that spill out into the community. Successful schools have greater autonomy and empowered…

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (Oregon) provides a wide range of social services to stimulate community development, based on reuse, repair, and recycling. Job training and jobs are provided in the woodshop, appliance center, mattress factory, glass shop, and environmentally friendly housing construction projects, with priority…

Employs Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, "The Nightingale," and the many lessons within it to help music educators design learning experiences that foster the development of musical expression. Conveys that without musical expression students' music will be mechanical, not unique and meaningful. (CMK)

This response to Mahoney et al. (EC 623 392) agrees that there is currently less emphasis on parent education in the early-intervention literature but suggests that the current emphasis on family-centered services can be integrated with parent education while supporting family empowerment. (DB)

Evaluates a (British) government white paper on postsecondary education. Welcomes community councils, social partnerships, and enhanced resources, while criticizing absence of a change model, inadequate employer training investments, and slavish adherence to business's needs and human-capital theory. Empowerment goes further than endless…

Surveyed traditional and charter school teachers to determine their perceptions of the teacher's role, the teaching and learning processes, and teacher empowerment. Results indicated that there were some differences, but the two groups had more in common than not. Charter school teachers did not have deeper involvement in curricular decision…

Explains that Helen Parkhurst's Dalton Laboratory Plan disappeared quickly in many British schools but remained for over 40 years in the King Alfred School in London (England). Explores the development of the Dalton Plan at King Alfred, why this educational innovation thrived at the school, and the causes for its disappearance. (CMK)

Discusses cultural influences on behavior, theoretical assumptions about culturally diverse students, and culturally sensitive behavior management strategies that educators might consider in their efforts to curtail school violence. The strategies are intended to be culture-specific and culture-fair, to humanize school environments, and to…

Describes the Wisconsin Youth HIV Prevention Institution, a program to enhance HIV prevention peer education for reaching youth at high risk, focusing on its intensive multicultural education and empowerment approach. Summarizes evaluation findings related to participation in the program and discusses implications of the program for HIV prevention…

Explored the journey and progress of elementary teachers conducting action research within science and mathematics, examining their perspectives of teaching, empowerment, research, and professional development through team planning. Data from journals, activities, observations, surveys, and interviews indicated that an initial stumbling block to…

Describes a mathematics early intervention program that involves faculty development to help teachers identify, then assist, first graders at risk of mathematics failure. The program incorporates tools and learning activities based on recent research about children's early numerical learning. The course highlights the benefits of clinical…

Discusses the "Gardendale Family"--a vertically aligned team of K-6 classrooms. Notes that the family sought to develop a sense of community within the school; promote family involvement; develop a cognitively engaging and culturally connected curriculum; engage students in authentic learning; and develop programs to encourage individual…

Offers reflections on lingering issues raised in this themed issue on the "Gardendale Family": maintaining the integrity of the family; issues of time; curriculum standards; and effects on the rest of the school. Offers a bibliography of works considering the global concerns which prompted the formation of the Gardendale Family. (SR)