Differences between the planning and execution of two 1911-12 polar expeditions transcend matters of aims and resources. Scott's planning approach was deterministic, whereas Amundsen's was deliberative, resolving each problem in its practical, human context. Like Scott's expedition, current U.S. and British attempts to improve education practice…

Uses Stanley Pogrow's (1996) ideas on reforms and why they often fail as a frame against which a number of controversies associated with Discipline-Based Art Education (DBAE) are examined. Describes some myths used to characterize DBAE's philosophical, cultural, and curricular orientations; contrasts them with dimensions of reality identified by…

During the 1990s, the school has become the center of blame. Policymakers seem more interested in identifying failing schools than celebrating successes. This paper uses case-study research on a once-innovative Ontario high school to show that "deadwood" schools do not kill themselves, but need outsiders' help. (42 references) (MLH)

Discusses the social and emotional problems of unrecognized gifted children whose talents exist in domains distinct from the intellectual, academic, and athletic realms. Two case studies are presented of two gifted elementary students, along with interventions for enhancing effective growth among such students. (CR)

A veteran newspaper editor speaks unashamedly in support of public schools, dispelling myths about teacher workload, student performance, vouchers and charter schools as reform models, outdated school boards, and overpaid administrators. Schools should revamp their public relations by publishing positive items in newsletters and creating speaker's…

An intervention project introduced metacognition techniques to compensate for educational deficiencies in young adults. The project, based on the Instrumental Enrichment cognitive training program, led to improvement in students' motivation, awareness of their own learning strategies, more rapid and sustained academic progress, and increased…

Discusses methods for analyzing case studies of failures of technological systems. Describes two distance learning courses that compare standard models of failure and success with the actuality of given scenarios. Provides teaching and learning materials and information sources for application to aspects of design, manufacture, inspection, use,…

Investigates children's perceptions of their success and failure in relation to mathematics, painting, reading, and getting on' with work. Discusses the categories of the children's responses to a series of questions in which effort, specific competence, and the role of teachers were cited the most as a reason for success/failure. (CMK)

Discusses cultural transmission and discontinuity, noting implications of culturally based assumptions and attitudes and their potential influence in schools. Interviews with seventh and eighth graders with various levels of school success or failure provided insights about student learning and adaptation strategies. Adjustments in culturally…

Describes an interdisciplinary course on economics and religion offered at a medium-sized state university. Explains that the class was mostly a disaster and analyzes reasons for its failure. Concludes that significant blame lies with general attitudes entrenched in economics, including a disregard for reality as opposed to methods and theories,…

Provides practical advice about the methods to prevent reading failure that is grounded in the new knowledge that has been acquired about reading and learning to read over the past two decades. Concludes with a discussion of issues and procedures for the early identification of children who are likely to experience difficulties learning to read.…

Ending all social promotion is ill-advised. A responsible decision on grade retention should be based on factors such as a child's age, health, maturity, testing readiness, previous academic performance, and available emedial services. Many retained children do not show enough improvement to justify the practice. (MLH)

Utilizes parent reports to examine the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), related treatment, and associated educational outcomes among elementary school children. Based on parental opinion, children diagnosed with ADHD are at high risk for school failure. Results are discussed in terms of distinctions between clinical…

The purpose of this study was to examine the development of oral reading fluency in a sample of first-grade children. Using growth curve analysis, models of growth were identified for a combined sample of at-risk (AR) and not-at-risk (NAR) children, and predictors of growth were identified for the longitudinal AR sample in first and second grade.…

The activity of working with a preservice teacher during an internship is a complex and intensive one representing a huge investment on the part of mentor teachers. Given this, it is not surprising that the effects on mentor teachers when their preservice teachers struggle or fail would be complex. We began to question how preservice teacher…