QUALITY IN TEACHER EDUCATION: RELFECTIONS ON A DECADE

This article reflects on the changing definitions of quality as they have been applied to teacher education in the 1980s and looks forward to the decade ahead.     

MATHEMATICS TEACHER EDUCATION AND QUALITY

‘Quality’ in mathematics teaching does not relate solely to pupil achievement, to teaching approaches or to deeply held beliefs about the nature of mathematics and its teaching and learning, but to all of these. A model of a teacher's mathematics‐related belief‐system is presented, and the issue of the contrast between espoused and enacted beliefs is discussed. ‘Quality’ in mathematics teacher education raises all of these issues, as well as the aims, goals and means of the teacher preparation process itself. The paper concludes by arguing against the ‘apprenticeship’ model of mathematics teacher education, for depriving student teachers of theory and of practical research experience. A well known dictum paraphrased states that theory without practice is empty, but that practice without theory is blind. ‘Quality’ in mathematics teaching and teacher education depends on both theory and practice in systematic cooperation.     

QUALITY IN TEACHER EDUCATION: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ACCOUNT

There has been an attempt to insert market forces into sectors of state spending which has been accompanied by a concern with managerialism. In the educational arena this has resulted in moves towards greater accountability set against the need to monitor quality. This is needed because schools have failed the nation and partly this is the fault of inadequate teaching. One remedy is to subject teachers to regular appraisal, another is to reform teacher education courses. In relation to teacher education CATE clearly spells out how teacher education courses are to be developed and all teacher education institutions have to comply with these criteria; a form of quality control has been inserted. Through a necessarily limited account of work in one institution of Higher Education it is argued that any attemts to measure and debate a construct as complex as ‘quality’ is complicated when the subject of all this attention is an aspect of human endeavour. Quality cannot be considered in isolation from real social contexts. Finally exhortation and crude attempts to enhance teaching through some simple versions of ‘quality control might not be the most successful of strategies; praise, support and proper resourcing all have a part to play.     

THE FELLOWSHIPS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RELIGION IN HIGHER EDUCATION

This article explores the interaction between the work and lives of five religious qualitative researchers whose research studies investigate both culture and religion. The ways their personal backgrounds, experiences, and values affect their choice of research topics and their relationships with research participants and with data, are revealed through the stories they tell about their work. Implications are drawn both for the conduct of qualitative, cultural study and for religious education.     

THE IMPLICATIONS OF NATIONAL POLICIES IN THE UNITED STATES,BRAZIL, EL SALVADOR,AND PERU ON EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER EDUCATION

It may seem obvious but the world is filled with believers in the value of good care and attention to children during the earliest months and years. That belief is embedded in virtually all cultural traditions. Indeed, both common wisdom and hard scientific research evidence lead to the forceful conclusion that the earliest years of life are critical in the development of the intelligence, personality, and the social values and behaviors that will characterize later life... But if the value of the early years is so evident... why is there such neglect by families and social institutions? Among the reasons that might be offered are the following: Families living in extreme poverty or victimized by war and famine, may be so busy surviving that they cannot give the

loving attention to their children they would like to give. Families living in luxury may be too busy making money, or spending it, to give the needed time to their children. At the same time, some institutions that could help families to help their children take the position that the child development is best left to families. ‐‐Robert G. Myers, 1991     

FOURTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR JEWISH EDUCATION

Successful career development involves balancing the values and expectations held by oneself and by others regarding one's position and the roles played as part of the position. Due to the nature of their work, rabbis face special challenges with regard to balancing professional roles and expectations. Results from a study of Conservative rabbis are reported here, including the variety of roles played by rabbis, the value and expectations placed by rabbis regarding each of these roles, and his or her perception of the value and expectations placed by lay leaders on these roles. Implications related to rabbinic identity and education are discussed.     

CAN THERE BE QUALITY IN TEACHER EDUCATION WITHOUT SPIRITUALITY?

In this paper the need for ensuring the inclusion of the spiritual dimension in Teacher Education courses is considered. This dimension is included in both the 1944 and 1988 Education Acts, but no definitions or guidelines are given. The research of Hardy and Hay is drawn upon to underline the significance of the spiritual aspect of human nature, and the writings of Berger and Hull to demonstrate its repression in modem life. Despite the problems involved in finding an acceptable definition of spirituality, a case is argued for its inclusion in Teacher Education courses. Some questions are proposed for influential parties such as Course Leaders and validators to use when evaluating courses.     

论素质教育的质量评价

素质教育质量评价，是根据国家教育方针、素质教育目标、标准和宗旨，采用现代教育评价理论、方法与技术，确定素质教育工作质量与产品质量达成预定目标及标准的程度，作出科学的价值判断，并为素质教育决策系统提供反馈信息的控制过程。本文对素质教育质量评价的基本原则、主要内容以及建立素质教育质量评价制度三个问题进行了较为系统的论述。     

COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S REPORT ON EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

The following article gives the main elements of the Synthesis Report on Employment/Training, which is based on national reports presented to the Council of Europe’s Standing Conference on University Problems. Expressed are the major concerns among the Council of Europe Member States with regard to the functioning of higher education systems in terms of meeting individual demands, employment openings and the needs of society.