A history of a policy-level curriculum change in California

With the publication of A Nation at Risk (1983) educational reform has had a prominent place on the agenda of virtually every one of the sovereign states. As in many other states California focused much of its reform effort on the teaching of reading. In a political battle over the reading curriculum, California went from the English/Language Arts Framework of 1987, widely viewed as giving the state's imprimatur to whole language (an approach rooted in the learner's experience), to the English/Language Arts Frameworks (a more traditional or basic approach) of 1998 that called for the inclusion of phonemic awareness as the building block of reading instruction in all elementary schools. This study examined the historical record to determine the major forces behind this curriculum change. The results of this study are helpful to those who wish to better understand the relationship between political forces and curriculum change in the current age of educational reform. ^ This study utilized qualitative research methods and is presented as humanistic historical research (Landes & Tilly, 1971). The organizational framework for the study is taken from the work of M. Frances Klein (1991) which identifies seven different levels of curriculum decision-making. In this analysis particular attention was paid to the interaction of academic, formal, and societal levels, as the problem under consideration casts curriculum decision-making in the political realm. Three sources of information were used to provide the historical record. They include articles from popular newspapers and magazines, government documents, and interviews with individuals directly involved in the political process. ^ The results of this study demonstrate the power of societal forces over formal authority in making curriculum policy decisions. ^

School desegregation in Broward County, Florida, 1970--1998: A historical study of power

This is a historical case study on school desegregation and power in Broward County, Florida from 1970 to 1998. The purpose of this study is to describe, explain and analyze types of power used by the School Board of Broward County, Florida and community activists, in their efforts to influence desegregation decisions from 1970 to 1998. In addition, this study explains who benefited and who won from the School Board's desegregation decisions and who governed those decisions? ^ A historical case study approach was used as the method for conducting this study. Data sources included 11 interviews of individuals who were involved in school desegregation issues as either School Board officials or community activists and 10 archival data sources. ^ The theoretical models of Russell, Galbraith, Wartenberg and Domhoff were used to determine the different types of power techniques used by School Board officials and community activists and to answer the questions: who benefited and who won from the School Board's desegregation decisions and who governed those policies and practices? ^ The primary beneficiaries of school desegregation policies and practices in Broward County were: white, affluent communities and the builders, developers, realtors and other businesses in the western suburban communities. All of the data sources indicated that the black community did not benefit from the School Board's desegregation policies. ^ The primary power techniques used by School Board officials to influence desegregation policies and practices was “power over opinions” and compensation. These power techniques were manifested by the School Board publicly disputing the allegations raised by community activists and by compensating those who supported and promoted the School Board's desegregation policies and practices. ^ The power techniques primarily used by community activists were coercive force and “power over opinions.” They effectively used these power techniques to change the School Board's policies and practices they felt were detrimental to black children and the black community. ^ Based on the analysis of the qualitative data, it can be concluded that black children did not benefit from school desegregation in Broward County, Florida and the community continues to suffer residual effects from past desegregation policies and practices. ^

The rise and early history of political parties in Oregon 1843-1868,

Mode of access: Internet.

A brief treatise upon constitutional and party questions, and the history of political parties, as I received it orally from the late Senator Stephen A. Douglas.

Mode of access: Internet.

A history of political theories ancient and mediaeval.

Mode of access: Internet.

A short history of political economy in England, from Adam Smith to Arnold Toynbee,

Mode of access: Internet.

A general view of the world : comprising a physical, political, and statistical account of its grand divisions ... with their empires, kingdoms, republics, principalities, & c : exhibiting the history of geographical science and the progress of discovery to the present time :

Mode of access: Internet.

Life of John C. Calhoun. Presenting a condensed history of political events from 1811 to 1843.

Advertising matter: [4] p. at end (not included in pagination) and on p. 2-4 of wrappers.

A history of political theories, ancient and mediæval.

Includes bibliographical references.

The leading orators of twenty-five campaigns : from the first presidential canvass to the present time. Portraits, reminiscences, and biographical sketches of America's distinguished political speakers. A concise history of political parties in the United States, together with a chronological presentation of presidential and vice-presidential nominees.

Mode of access: Internet.

Cyclopædia of political science, political economy, and of the political history of the United States,

First published, 1881.

H. P. Hall's Observations : being more or less a history of political contests in Minnesota from 1849-1904.

Mode of access: Internet.

An introduction to the history of the science of politics,

"Delivered as a course of lectures at the Royal Institution in 1882, and ... published as a series of articles in the Fortnightly review."--Advertisement.

The James Sprunt studies in history and political science.

At head of title: The University of North Carolina.

Cornell studies in history and political science.

Vol. 5 issued without series title.