Education & Pedagogy

Describes the work of the Children's Center for Global Understanding in Duluth, Minnesota. The purpose of the center is to provide upper elementary pupils, teachers, teacher education students, and university professors with resources, curriculum, and support. The center emphasizes environmental issues, human rights, justice, and the understanding of world cultures. (MJP)

Describes the various means of entry into the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the interwar years. Although originally limited to recruits with social connections, the program changed under pressure of rearmament and impending war with Germany. By the late 1930s, occupational aptitude superseded social standing as an admission requirement. (MJP)

A rural New Mexico project identifies gifted Hispanic and Native American children in the visual arts. Committees of parents, teachers, artists, and administrators use identification procedures sensitive to cultural, linguistic, and ethnic differences and community ethnic identity. Program elements include culturally relevant differentiated curriculum, cross-cultural sharing between sites, enhancement of local arts, and portfolio assessment. (SAS)

Discusses the District of Columbia Public Schools' collaborative approach to HIV/AIDS prevention education centered on peer education. The program is part of a broader school health project that addresses many health risk areas. It links peer programs to local networks, training teachers and peer educators and offering special community training and education events. (SM)

Economic inequality is tearing our civil society apart. Addressing this problem through school governance reforms (vouchers, privatization, and charter schools), or curriculum changes (teaching new basic skills), or a new instructional focus (Rifkin's civil sector) ignores the real challenge: redistributing wealth and softening inequalities. Education should reflect children's interests and reduce teenagers' isolation from the adult world. (MLH)

Special educators from rural and remote school districts in eastern Oregon surveyed local employers and designed a school-to-work site-based work-experience program for students with disabilities in an area with limited employment resources. Components of the six-year program (grades 7-12) and the outcome of enhancing associated work skills are described. Contains 22 references. (Author/SAS)

Describes the partnership model for the University of North Florida's master's program in education offered in Belize, suggesting that the model holds promise for development of international programs by other institutions. Topics discussed include the university's history of involvement in education in Belize, the Belize context for education, anticipated program outcomes, and lessons learned about program design and implementation. (Author/MSE)

This study examined physical education interns' (N=46) perceptions about their internships as indicators of professional development. Focus groups and surveys indicated that the student teachers wanted to fit in, get along with teachers, and gain pupil cooperation. Constraints included difficulties establishing management systems, untimely supervision, and feeling estranged. Ability to resolve constraints directly affected self-image. (SM)

Reports on a small-scale study that examined deficiencies in pre-service geography teachers' subject knowledge. The British pre-service teachers were all studying for Post Graduate Certificates in Education and answered questions regarding their subject knowledge and educational background. Documents definite weaknesses and identifies areas for improvement. (MJP)

Traces development since the 1950s of the tuition agreement approach, in which Canadian provincial school boards negotiate costs and conditions of First Nations schooling with (initially) the federal Indian agency or (now) First Nations bands themselves. Recommends strategies supporting Native control of tuition negotiations as a means of intervening in neocolonialist practices of provincial school systems. Contains 35 references. (SV)

Dean of International University Learning Center (Kyoto, Japan) argues that traditional educational systems disregard developmental needs of children and prevent change by perpetuating societal values. The idea that children need to develop as an integral part of their natural and social systems is discussed in relation to alternative education principles and practices, education for creative living, and teachers' role. (TD)

A study investigated the impact of six University of Georgia educational leadership workshops conducted for school districts. Positive impacts were seen in developing effective teams; retaining teachers in critical fields; inclusion of students with disabilities; integration of special education teachers and programs; developing successful grants; implementing new discipline models; improved understanding of discipline procedures; responding to major change. (MSE)

Reflects on the collective experiences of eight medical schools participating in a large-scale medical curriculum development project, highlighting lessons learned over five years and commenting on issues of leadership, governance, communication, faculty development, curriculum integration, instructional methods, student assessment, and program evaluation. Concludes that changes in all these areas are necessary for successful reform of medical education. (Author/MSE)

Three major issues have led to changes in graduate medical education: shortages of academic and community physician time to devote to teaching; limited resident exposure to various medical conditions due to shifts in training venues; and residents' lack of training in information technologies. Internal organizational networks (intranets) can be incorporated into graduate medical education to help bridge this gap. (Author/MSE)

The Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications (MCET), a quasi-public agency, plays a leadership role in distance education and the integration of telecommunications and education locally and nationally. Operator of the Mass LearnPike satellite network and the Mass Ed OnLine LearnNet computer network, MCET provides expanded educational opportunities through multiple technologies, partnerships, and innovative, interactive programming for grades K-12. (Author/AEF)