FOCUS

FOUNDATION OF A NATION STRONG AND EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS
By Richard W. Riley

The U.S. Secretary of Education discusses the philosophy and underpinnings of various Clinton Administration initiatives, and the importance of a strong educational structure as a major component of a vibrant nation.

COMMENTARY

EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES ?A STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT
Produced by Journal Editors

Numbers almost never tell the whole story, but they do help to appreciate the size of the enterprise. This brief selection demonstrates the scope of education in the United States and gives some sense of the resources involved.

U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE POSTWAR ERA: EXPANSION AND GROWTH
By Theodore J. Marchese

In the five decades since World War II, the United States has rebuilt and greatly expanded its system of higher education. Educational opportunity has become more open and accessible, fairer and more relevant. Higher education is now seen as an indispensable investment in creating a knowledgeable workforce, producing broad national benefits and increased personal fulfillment for our citizens. Following this article is a brief consideration of The Essence of the Educated Person. A third piece briefly outlines The Accreditation Process by non-governmental peer bodies for higher education and by state and local authorities for primary and secondary education.

PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY / PRIVATE INITIATIVE:
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES
An interview with Dr. Michael Usdan

The president of the Institute for Educational Leadership ?a nonprofit organization reflecting the concerns of business and education ? discusses issues and trends in primary and secondary education in the United States: Is America��s historic commitment to mass public education appropriate in its current form? What are the prospects of experiments to improve public schooling? Following the interview, Journal editors review some of the concerns about educational quality in Grading U.S. Education Today.

THE COMMUNITY AND THE CLASSROOM
By Denis P. Doyle

This article explains the basic structure of the U.S. educational system, including the limits on the federal government��s Department of Education, the importance of ��local control?of community schools and the recent emergence of the ��excellence?movement.

RELEARNING EDUCATION IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY
An interview with Dr. Barbara Means and Dr. Seymour Papert

Two renowned experts in innovative uses of technology in education, Dr. Barbara Means of SRI International and Dr. Seymour Papert of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discuss the impact of technology on our systems of learning.

VOICES IN EDUCATION
Prepared by Charlotte Astor

The subject of education, which has shaped our society and is shaped by it, continues to inspire lively discussion and sometimes contentious debate. Here, we present comments from a broad range of participants in the current educational dialogue.

RESOURCES

ARTICLE ALERT

BIBLIOGRAPHY

U.S. Society & Values

USIA Electronic Journal

Volume 2, Number 4, December 1997

USIA's electronic journals, published and transmitted worldwide at three-week intervals, examine major issues facing the United States and the international community, and inform foreign publics about the United States. The journals -- Economic Perspectives, Global Issues, Issues of Democracy, U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda and U.S. Society & Values -- provide analysis, commentary and background information in their thematic areas. All journals are translated into French and Spanish with the Hypertext versions published one week (two weeks in the case of U.S. SOCIETY & VALUES) after the English; the Adobe Acrobat versions appear shortly thereafter. Selected issues are also translated into Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese and Russian, with the latter two appearing in Hypertext and Adobe Acrobat versions. The opinions expressed in the journals do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Government. Articles may be reproduced and translated outside the United States unless there are specific copyright restrictions cited on the article.

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Editor, U..S. Society & Values
Society and Values - I/TSV 301 4th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20547
United States of America

[email protected]

Publisher..........................Judith S. Siegel
Editor.............................William Peters
Managing Editors...................Charlotte Astor
Associate Editors..................Michael Bandler
                 ..................William Peters
                 ..................Wayne Hall
                 ..................Guy Olson
Contributing Editors...............Steven Koenig
                 ..................Rosalie Targonski
Art Director/Graphic Designer......Thaddeus A. Miskinski, Jr.
Graphics Assistant.................Sylvia Scott
Internet Editor....................Chandley McDonald
Reference and Research.............Mary Ann V. Gamble
                 ..................Kathy Spiegel

                  Editorial Board

Howard Cincotta...John Davis Hamill...Judy S. Siegel

U.S. Society & Values
USIA Electronic Journal, Vol. 2, No. 4, December 1997