Development and validation of the Ethical Climate Index, designed to measure perceived ethical climate of an institution's graduate and professional school programs, is described. The instrument was found to be valid and reliable, and variability was found in student perceptions of ethical climate across major academic areas. Research needs are…

Reviews the literature for studies conducted in the United States and in Canada on the use of magazines in elementary school libraries, and describes a study of Oklahoma schools that investigated titles most frequently used by children. Results are reported that indicate most use is for pleasure reading. (six references) (LRW)

Recommends that future research on economics education be directed toward the measurement of multiple outputs, the economics major, and replication. Suggests reexamination of how high school economics instruction affects later interest. Explores effects of class size, optimum order for taking classes, student and instructor differences, nonnative…

This paper describes the historical events that have influenced the evolution of field-based experiences in preparing special education teachers, describes the state of general practice, identifies the unresolved issues and promising trends, and outlines a future research agenda for analyzing preservice special education field-based experiences.…

Existing empirical research on core French instruction is reviewed, and research directions are proposed in four areas: program design, program objectives and outcomes, curriculum issues, and teacher education. Experimentation with alternative instructional designs for delivery of core French is seen as a high priority. (84 references) (Author/MSE)

Higher education institutions must find a balance between their internal mission and external forces in governance, autonomy, quality vs. quantity in research, curriculum breadth, curiosity-motivated vs. mission-oriented research, excellence vs. equality, and academic freedom vs. ideological conformity. Each institution will resolve these dilemmas…

The narrative of the American Indian has pronounced social, political, and economic implications; the complete story predicates and ratifies a special place for the Indian in North American moral and political systems. But mythic structures and cultural fictions must be combated with true accounts of historical events and relationships. (AF)

Advocates a model of multicultural education plus integration to ensure that multicultural education is both taught by committed experts and integrated into general courses. Defining a rigorous scholarly and research agenda and developing strong leaders and standards for practice will ensure the place of multicultural education as an academic…

Reviews the development of African-American history as a scholarly field within U.S. history. Presents four generations of black historians who have contributed to the development and current status of African-American history. Concludes with a discussion of needed additional research and a 22-item bibliography. (CFR)

Offers a friendly critique of the efforts of the Parent-Teacher Action Research Project conducted by eight member schools of the League of Parents Reaching Out. Concludes that parent-teacher action research can empower parents, and suggests ways to improve the action research parent involvement process. (SLD)

Presents highlights from a conversation via BITNET on education policy and priorities for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. The electronic discussion took place over 3 weeks with approximately 700 participants. Themes of balancing kindergarten through grade 12 education and higher education and the government's role in research…

An overview is provided of the nature of reflective practice as presented in pedagogical literature and of the necessary characteristics of the reflective practitioner in an educational context. Implications for the evaluation of classroom teachers are explored, and suggestions for further research are offered. (SLD)

This commentary offers 10 critical characterizations of contemporary special education and 5 major implications for the future of the field. It urges special educators to turn their attention unambiguously and forcefully to empirical research to generate reliable common knowledge of effective instruction of students with disabilities. (Author/CR)

Argues that law schools systematically and pervasively fail to study and teach about the legal profession. This is seen as an ethical failure by the legal academy to meet the needs of its three principal constituencies: students; the bar; and society. Three concrete strategies that all law schools should undertake to address issues graduates will…

A discussion of the outreach role of American universities looks back to the origins of state and land-grant universities and their early role in promoting access to education and the advances of technology. Argues that understanding the current outreach mission of universities requires both clear vision and thorough research. (MSE)