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This Technical Committee Report presents research on demographic trends, labor force participation, and public service programs which suggests a need to alter traditional assumptions about aging, family, and social supports required for an equitably integrated society. Demographic data on populations, families, and aging are provided, and demographic changes which have implications for age-integration of families are discussed, including changing social roles of mid-life Americans and changing social and economic roles of women. Historical data focus on filial piety, exploring intergenerational households, economic necessity and family conflict. Sociological data examine contemporary patterns of intergenerational solidarity. Discussion of family structure and household composition, associational and affectual solidarity between generations, exchanges of assistance and support between generations, norms and intergenerational transfers, and burdens and stresses are included. Perspectives on public policies which constrain or facilitate the family's functions are given, and committee recommendations designed to support the family and create an age-integrated society are enumerated. An executive summary of this report is also included. (NRB)

This Technical Committee Report presents recommendations and strategies designed to achieve continued economic improvements for the elderly. Four specific recommendations serve as the basis for this report, i.e.,: (1) the United States should expand employment opportunities for the elderly; (2) both government and the private sector should encourage increased personal savings; (3) an increased income transfer program targeted at the poorest elderly is needed to reduce income inadequacy; and (4) national policies should encourage increased domestic investment aimed at improved productivity and economic growth. A picture of future economic conditions, based on current policies and social trends prevails and, developed by Data Resources, Inc. (DRI), provides a baseline against which to measure the impact of new economic strategies recommended by the Committee Report. Extractions and analyses of major DRI findings are presented for the baseline along with four strategy forecasts and the implications for current and future policy action. An executive summary of this report is also included. (NRB)

In support of the National Education Goals of 1990, the Goals Panel convened a Technical Planning Group to offer background guidance for the National Council on Education and Standards in its task of establishing world-class academic standards for the United States. Recommendations of the Planning Group consider two types of content standards: national subject-specific content standards and state content standards. The Group recommends that certification of content standards be provisional until associated performance standards are developed. Review criteria for content standards include ensuring that they are: (1) of world-class standards; (2) important and focused; (3) useful; (4) reflective of broad consensus building; (5) balanced; (6) accurate and sound; (7) clear and usable; (8) assessable; (9) adaptable; and (10) developmentally appropriate. State content standards should be as rigorous as national subject-specific standards, feasible, cumulatively adequate for student needs, encouraging of the ability to integrate and apply knowledge, and reflective of broad consensus. While all that is needed to develop high standards is not yet known, high standards themselves are a critical first step. Five appendices contain supplemental information about the Planning Group, background documents about standard setting in other countries, and initial efforts in the United States. (SLD)

This technical assistance paper provides policy and guidance to individuals with test administration responsibilities in adult education programs. Rule 6A-6.014, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), titled, General Requirements for Adult General Education Programs, requires all adult education programs to report all student measurable educational gains and demographic information to Florida's reporting system. State policies outlined in this rule apply to the state-approved assessments that programs may use to report educational gains and are in compliance with both the state and National Reporting System (NRS) requirements. The NRS is the accountability system for the federally funded adult education program, mandated by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). There are three important reasons for creating a data-driven accountability system for adult education programs: (1) The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) requires each state to establish and utilize performance measures for making continued funding decisions for federal grant programs. Furthermore, each state is expected to institute a system for program monitoring and continued technical assistance that is centered on program enrollment and performance. (2) The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has enhanced its monitoring processes by instituting a data-driven system for determining program performance. (3) The FDOE program administrators can focus attention on establishing program performance targets and program improvement. To assist programs with student and program performance reporting and accountability, Florida's data reporting system and the NRS are uniform and compatible for measuring student's educational gains. Progress is measured in Literacy Completion Points (LCPs). The term, Literacy Completion Point, used by the state is synonymous with the federal term Measurable Skill Gain (MSG). LCPs are required to be reported to show gains and progression in Educational Functioning Levels (EFLs) for NRS. The Florida assessment policies and guidelines presented in this technical assessment paper are appropriate for state and federal reporting. Therefore, guidance and procedures regarding the selection and use of appropriate student assessment are included in this technical assistance paper. Additionally, the following important information for adult education programs is reviewed: (1) The definition of key terms and acronyms; (2) Selection of appropriate assessments by student and program type; (3) Appropriate student placement into program and instructional level; (3) Verification of student learning gains, Educational Functioning Level, and/or program completion; (4) Accommodations for students with disabilities and other special needs; (5) Assessment procedures for Distance Education; and (6) Training for all staff who administer the standardized assessments. [For the 2016-2017 version of this paper, see ED579162.]

The relationship of older Americans to the new media culture of society is the focus of this Technical Committee Report. The work of two committee-appointed subcommittees on stereotypes and new media technology are explained with a special emphasis on the influence of television. Age stereotyping is examined in prime time television, daytime television serials, and television commercials as well as in print magazine advertising and children's literature. Age discrimination in employment is mentioned in relationship to the underrepresentation of older persons in televised programming and commercials. Key issues related to the media's portrayal of older persons are identified and recommendations are made. The new technology section of this report considers the potential uses of videotape recorders, video discs, cable television, interactive cable, and cable and computer technology. Advantages of this new technology are discussed, problems are addressed, and key issues and recommendations are listed. This report concludes that new media technology presents the potential for more programming directed toward the needs of older Americans in entertainment, news and information, and offers the potential for innovative services to help solve the problems of older Americans. An executive summary of this report is also included. (NRB)

The relationship of older Americans to the new media culture of society is the focus of this Technical Committee Report. The work of two committee-appointed subcommittees on stereotypes and new media technology are explained with a special emphasis on the influence of television. Age stereotyping is examined in prime time television, daytime television serials, and television commercials as well as in print magazine advertising and children's literature. Age discrimination in employment is mentioned in relationship to the underrepresentation of older persons in televised programming and commercials. Key issues related to the media's portrayal of older persons are identified and recommendations are made. The new technology section of this report considers the potential uses of videotape recorders, video discs, cable television, interactive cable, and cable and computer technology. Advantages of this new technology are discussed, problems are addressed, and key issues and recommendations are listed. This report concludes that new media technology presents the potential for more programming directed toward the needs of older Americans in entertainment, news and information, and offers the potential for innovative services to help solve the problems of older Americans. An executive summary of this report is also included. (NRB)

This Technical Committee Report addresses the interactions between governmental structure and aging policy and administration, focusing on three general areas: (1) the role of government; (2) strategies to achieve national objectives; and (3) the most effective, efficient, and responsive structure for delivery of needed services. The impact of policy, organizational linkages, funding, and management styles on the achievement of national objectives is discussed along with the pluralistic nature of society, the current emphasis on decentralized decision-making and service delivery, and the multi-jurisdictional pattern through which programs are implemented. A section of the philosophy and experience of government in the field of aging considers, among other issues, age-integrated and age-segregated approaches to aging. Government organization is discussed at the federal, state, and local levels, and general issues of government structure are examined, i.e., decentralization versus centralization, advisory structures, advocacy, and citizen/client accountability. Management, intergovernmental, and public policy issues are also presented. Although this report does not contain specific recommendations for the White House Conference on Aging delegates, options and alternative designs are presented whenever feasible. An executive summary of this report is also included. (NRB)

This Technical Committee Report focuses on theological, ethical, and spiritual values within the context of spiritual well-being from the perspective of institutionalized religion in America. The place of organized religion in regard to aging and its role in developing national aging policies is examined. A presentation of the data base for this report includes a review of previous White House Conference goals, programs for the aging under religious auspices, national, regional, and area level programs, and local congregations. The present situation is reviewed and future trends are projected. Major findings of the committee are discussed which emphasize the importance of spiritual well-being for the elderly and the need for spiritual principles in developing national policies. Key issues identified by the committee are discussed in the categories of: (1) holistic aging policy and spiritual well-being; (2) religious institutions as architects of societal attitudes; (3) religious institutions as providers of services; and (4) the role of religious institutions in meeting spiritual needs of the elderly. Six recommendations for national policy on aging are enumerated. An appendix containing additional relevant materials and an executive summary of this report are also included. (NRB)

This report by the Technical Committee on Education is designed to help readers understand the effects of education on an aging society and older Americans and the effects of an aging population on educational policies and programs. An introduction and a review of social trends precede the three major sections focusing on: (1) an examination of educational opportunities for older learners and teachers; (2) a discussion of the development and improvement of training programs to prepare personnel to serve the elderly; and (3) a description of educational and public informational programs about aging for all Americans. These sections are followed by a summary of significant issues and a Recommendations section explaining the roles and responsibilities of the federal government, state government, educational institutions, professional and scientific organizations, and organizations in the private sector. The appendix provides tables and charts of the statistical data used in this assessment of education and its relationship to aging. An executive summary of this report is also included which highlights major findings, key issues, and recommendations. (NRB)

This Technical Committee Report discusses the general implications of creating an age-integrated society for societal institutions by concentrating on basic conceptual issues involved in thinking about the future of aging and the aged in society. An explanation of committee procedures is followed by a discussion of key topics and findings of the committee. The section on options explores alternative images of an aging society and policy implications of these alternatives. Three images of future society are outlined and the policy implications of each are illustrated as a society: (1) in which adulthood is perceived to be indivisible and in which chronological age differences are irrelevant to policymakers; (2) that redefines the social meaning and boundary of old age; and (3) that recognizes the special status and special responsibilities of older persons. This third image, veteranship, is presented as an attractive image of future society; subsequent committee recommendations for a future aging policy are based on this concept of veteranship. The appendices containing three papers on aging and an executive summary of this report are also included. (NRB)

1Frithiof Saga

By Ferdinand Schmidt

Iceland is the home of the Saga, a form of literature which includes the telling of the story of a hero’s life and adventures in a fixed, regular form, and which is usually intended for recitation, though the Saga is never set in the customary versified style of poetry. A large number of these Sagas, relating to Iceland, Greenland, North America, and the Norse countries, still remain, and among them the Frithiof Saga, narrating the stirring adventures of that hero of the Northland and Viking of its seas, is one of the most beautiful. Its subject is noble, heroic, and free from exaggerated description or overwrought sentiment. Frithiof is a splendid type of the old Norse hero, invincible in battle upon the land, fearless of Nature’s wrath as he sails the seas in his dragon ship, impulsive yet just, swift in punishment yet quick in forgiveness. The central motives of the Saga are his love for King Bele’s daughter, Ingeborg; the refusal of her brothers to sanction their marriage because the hero is not of royal birth; her unwilling marriage to the old King Ring; Frithiof’s exile, and his final union with Ingeborg after the death of her husband and reconciliation with her brother. Interwoven with the narrative itself, which is full of dramatic situations, are some of the old myths, than which none is more beautiful than the death of the gentle god Balder. The very breath of the North sweeps through the stately story which the German author has told with so much skill. Those who wish to come in closer contact with the Saga itself can do so by consulting Bishop Tegner’s masterly translation. - Summary by George Upton

2Gudrun

By Ferdinand Schmidt

The charming story of “Gudrun” is a romance of the old heroic period, written by some unknown poet of Austria or Bavaria in the thirteenth century. Next to the "Nibelungen Lied," it is the most important of the German epic poems...The same elemental passions are depicted. The men are brave, vigorous heroes, rejoicing in battle and feats of prowess; the women are beautiful, constant, and courageous. There are many fine delineations of character in the original, as well as vigorous sketches of northern scenery. The figure of Gudrun stands out in bold relief among the maidens. There are few more beautiful characters, indeed, in the poems of the old heroic period...Gudrun’s name is always spoken by her people with reverence. "Her courage and constancy were extolled by them, and in after days her fame was as radiant as the stars in the heavens." (George P. Upton, Translator's Preface)

3George Washington

By Ferdinand Schmidt

Among all the numerous life stories written by Ferdinand Schmidt for the delectation and education of German youth, none surpasses that of Washington. The author has condensed his material, drawn from the most authoritative sources, in a masterly manner, and presents it in a very attractive form. He has accompanied it by moralization which is pertinent, but never becomes tedious. It is questionable, indeed, whether any story of Washington’s life written for young people excels Schmidt’s in accuracy, conciseness, and general interest. As such this sketch of the Father of his Country from a German point of view is commended to American youth. -- Translator's Preface - Summary by George P. Upton