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This collection of addresses, remarks, and papers presented at the second White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS2) includes excerpts from remarks made by First Lady Barbara Bush, President George Bush, Marilyn Quayle, and William T. Esrey of United Telecommunications, Inc., and keynote addresses by Mary Futrell from the Center for the Study of Education and National Development at George Washington University, and Major R. Owen, Chairman of the Select Education Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee ("Libraries in America 2000"). These presentations speak to the three conference themes of Literacy, Democracy, and Productivity. Also included in the collection are: (1) "Moving from 'Special Services' to Universal Access" (Deborah Kaplan, Associate Director of Public Education, World Institute on Disability); (2) remarks by Gordon M. Ambach in introducing Lamar Alexander (U.S. Secretary of Education) together with remarks by Alexander; (3) "The GOPAC Project" (Newt Gingrich, U.S. Congressman from Georgia); (4) remarks by Paul Simon (U.S. Senator from Illinois), and (5) remarks by James Billington (Librarian of Congress). (MAB)

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development of the Committee on Education and the Workforce on protecting free speech on college campuses. Opening statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Burgess Owens, Chairman, Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Workforce Development; and (2) Honorable Robert C. Scott, ''Bobby.'' Ranking Member, Committee on Education and the Workforce. Witness statements were provided by: (1) Cherise Trump, Executive Director, Speech First, Washington, D.C.; (2) Josiah Joner Executive Editor, The Stanford Review, Stanford, California; (3) Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer, Pen America; and (4) Ilya Shaprio, Director of Constitutional Studies, Manhattan Institute, New York, New York. Additional submissions include: (1) Honorable Jim Banks, a Representative in Congress from the State of Indiana: Report dated December 8, 2021 from The Heritage Foundation; (2) Honorable Suzanne Bonamici, a Representative in Congress from the State of Oregon: Statement for the record dated February 7, 2023, from the American Psychological Association; (3) Honorable Mark Takano, a Representative in Congress from the State of California: Memo dated March 22, 2023, from Jenny S. Martinez; and (4) Honorable Tim Walberg, a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan: Support letter for the record dated March 13, 2023.

The process of education is an important phenomenon that affects both individuals and the society as a whole. As a result, there is a dialectic of unity and interdependence between individuals and the society. Thus, individuals with high social qualities are part of a developed democratic society. In this sense, strengthening the educational system remains the duty of every citizen and the governing bodies of the democratic system itself. Furthermore, free and fair elections determine the basis of a state and the democratic nature of a pluralistic community. Therefore, a cultured society requires a developed democracy. For this reason, the primary duty of a state is to educate its citizens on democratic principles and norms. The sphere of education and the acknowledgment of shared values are greatly reliant on educational institutions at all levels. The fruits expected to be obtained in the field of education cannot be enjoyed in a short period, but need to mature at their own time. The perspective of the educational processes of the new generation should include the period of life in kindergartens, the lower learning cycle, gaining a higher grade in secondary and professional schools, as well as their attendance in university auditoriums. The following research paper discusses a detailed theoretical analysis of the interdependence and reciprocity of education and democracy. It also explains some concepts and views of contemporary researchers and philosophers on the role of education in the process of social cohesion and integration. [For the full proceedings, see ED652228.]

A democratic government, whose power belongs to the people, serves all its citizens equally and protects their natural rights. Its highest priority is to treat and serve its citizens properly and fulfill their interests. In democratic regimes, conflicts and other social issues can be resolved through dialogue, compromise, and consensus between the government and people of a given country to have a better future. In a democratic society, civic education plays an important role in shaping people's values and behaviors, and it cannot be achieved without a stable and developed economy. However, the interest of the human society in education dates back to the dawn of civilization in ancient Greece, when Plato spoke about the importance of education in the development of the state. And, based on his initiative, he wrote at the entrance of the Academy, "Do not go inside unless you are a geometer." Plato's concept of geometry is used to understand a man with a high cultural and scientific level. Thus, the European Enlightenment based on Platonic concepts of education gave it the role and place it deserves among all the professions that develop and civilize people. In ancient Greece, education was not valued as a luxury for a small number of people in the society, but as a right of all citizens. However, in order to achieve the practical goals of education, human society needs to regard it as the most important tool for its development. Therefore, this paper discusses the significance of education in the development of society by enriching it with modern philosophical concepts. The following issues will be addressed: The philosophical essence of education, Education for democracy as a social requirement, The importance of intercultural and multicultural education. [For the full proceedings, see ED654100.]

The value of upholding individuals' rights in society especially in this post-COVID-19 era can never be over-emphasized. The economic, political, cultural, and social rights of citizens set the parameters of what is expected by citizens from the government as we exist and socialise in society. It is also what gives the legal backing to citizens and what protects them from undue interferences and pressure from individuals, corporate, and government organizations. In Nigeria, serious social issues infringe on the social rights of citizens. Problems of insecurity, regular kidnapping, unemployment, and low standard of living exist. Many believe these long-lingering social issues, which are rooted in corruption, can be curbed via adult education. This will in turn bring about improved democratic practice by the government so citizens are safe and protected. This paper discusses the concept of adult education and how it can promote social rights in the practice of Nigerian democracy in the post-COVID-19 era. The paper examines related concepts on democracy and social rights and their value to national development. [For full proceedings, see ED628982.]

South Africa must embark upon the third epoch of education policy after the failures of the first two epochs: the 1953-1994 ("apartheid") era and the 1994-2021 era (the dawn of democracy and the dismantling of apartheid structures). There were not enough education opportunities to guide all the children of the country to maturity and acceptance of their civilian responsibilities. This paper examines the reasons why the education policies of the first two epochs failed and contributed to a poor, unequal and ineffective school education system. The paper also explores the challenges that the education system needs to confront to create a new education system that will support the attainment of the hitherto unfulfilled expectations and dreams that its citizens carried into the democratic era. The education policy of the third epoch must address critical issues to chart the way to an effective education system. There is a need to reorganize (reset) the education system in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A streamlined curriculum needs to focus on the essential skills and knowledge the country needs. The system can no longer ignore the need for the adequate provision of vocational and technical education to alleviate the sharply rising unemployment rate of young people and support the growth of the economy. Quality education policy must function despite the lack of funds for the provision of appropriate and functional infrastructure and competent human resources. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

Students need democratic models operating in their daily lives and opportunities to exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities. From 1995-1997 an action research project studied the effect "Judicious Discipline," a democratic citizenship model for school and classroom management, had on students, educators, and parents. "Judicious Discipline" is the only model for school/classroom management that is based on principles of democracy and operates at the principled level of moral development. Students and educators in two southwest Minnesota schools, an elementary school with 425 students, and a middle school with 300 students participated in the project. Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire administered to all students in both schools at three separate times throughout the 1995-96 school year. Instruction was by the school principal, counselors, and other resource staff. The importance of conducting democratic class meetings emerged from the action research project findings. A different questionnaire was used to determine stages of social development at which students in various home rooms operated. Two teachers in the middle school conducted democratic class meetings and 10 teachers did not. A comparison of survey results indicated that the two teachers who conducted democratic class meetings generated a class climate that was more aligned with autonomous social development than did the 10 teachers with no meetings. Democratic class meetings have certain key elements that the model calls for, such as determining who can call a meeting, setting ground rules, having the teacher lead the meetings, writing down goals, and not coercing student participation. (Contains 3 tables and 15 references.) (BT)

This collection of papers from North Carolina's state and regional Conferences on Library and Information Services, which were held over a 6-month period in 1990-1991, includes copies of: (1) the agenda of the state conference (Raleigh, February 6, 1991); (2) a list of the delegates to the national White House Conference on Library and Information Services; (3) a list of resolutions to be presented at the national conference; (4) a press release for the state conference; (5) a copy of "Tar Heel Libraries" containing information on the nine regional conferences and resolutions from eight of them; (6) reports and resolutions from the state and individual regional conferences; (7) keynote papers from individual conferences; (8) a flyer announcing the governor's conferences, a fact sheet on each of the three national conference themes--democracy, literacy, and productivity--and position papers from individual conferences; (9) a statement of the mission and purpose of North Carolina's libraries; (10) discussion papers for the national conference; (11) a fact sheet on the national conference; and (12) a copy of the North Carolina Governor's Executive Order authorizing the state and regional conferences. (BBM)

This paper explores academic promotion practices in higher education institutions. Promotion of faculty members of universities is one of the major mechanisms in maintaining and improving the quality and efficiency of higher education and research activities in the country. Appointment processes are therefore critical to institutional development; therefore, the study argues for the identification of successful practices by exploring the enablers and disablers within the institutional promotion process in South Africa. This qualitative conceptual paper used literature, not limited to books, articles and chapters written on higher education institutions' promotion practices. There is, however, limited research on institutional promotion practices for academic employees within the South African higher education institutions. The study argues for the identification of successful practices to ensure fair and equitable institutional promotion practices by exploring the enablers and disablers within the institutional promotion process in the South African higher education. The paper serves as a foundational piece in understanding that appointment practices can be regulated to ensure fairness and equity. The appointment practices highlight the importance of shifting academic staff profiles in ways that are more representative of a diverse democracy. The inclusion of South Africa demonstrates a gap that exists in the academic promotions within higher education institutions. Findings reveal power-play and micro-politicking within promotion practices in HEIs. The paper serves as a foundational piece in understanding the regulation of fairness and equity in academic appointment practices.