This paper presents a model of the epistemic development of organic chemists from student to practitioner. Key features of this model suggest that individuals first learn the language of organic chemistry, followed by the heuristics. Deep conceptual understanding of the concepts and models of organic chemistry does not occur until individuals…

Presents the results of a survey that ranked several professions in six categories: integrity, importance to society, general intelligence, status, ethical behavior, and special knowledge. The public image of librarians is then discussed, and it is argued that librarians need to recognize the value of marketing and public relations to promote…

The 2004 Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Practice of Psychology is awarded to Arthur L. Kovacs. He is recognized for making outstanding contributions to achieving statutory recognition and securing insurance reimbursement, and as a pioneer in the professional school movement, having trained several generations of practitioners.

To insure that parents were aware of faculty other than those teaching their children, teachers at St. Monica School prepared small group presentations for the Home and School Meeting on professional topics such as the teaching of reading and the parent's role in education. (SJL)

Outlines the broad standards for the proposed National Board Certification for teachers. This advanced certification will bring new status to teaching and has enormous potential to spur increased collaboration among teachers, reduced bureaucratic control, and more productive use of teachers' talents. (FMW)

The Association of School Business Officials International is establishing the Meritorious Budget Award Program to critique school district budgets. Recently several school districts agreed to apply the criteria from the program to their budgets. The experiences of two Pennsylvania districts are reported: Mt. Lebanon School District, Pittsburgh…

Reviews the 1990 conference on children's classics that was sponsored by Drexel University and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Highlights include summaries of and excerpts from papers by author and illustrator Wendy Watson and Anita Lobel, and information on the recipient of the 1990 Drexel Citation, author and illustrator Carolyn Croll. (LRW)

A self-nomination process is the key to a merit program in a Nebraska school system. An incentive award is distributed equally among teacher candidates who meet defined criteria in the areas of (1) student achievement, (2) candidate cooperation, (3) improving the profession, and (4) commitment to professional growth. (MLF)

By combining modest stipends, contracts, well-structured training, instructional videotapes, individual consultations, written reports, and public recognition for faculty participants, the College of Marin (California) program in faculty classroom research has thrived. Although improved academic achievement has not been substantiated, several…

This paper outlines three school award programs: the Ford program, the Secretary of Education's Program, and the For Character Program (Chicago). In providing descriptions of each program, the similarities and differences are analyzed. The programs share three basic assumptions: (1) that some schools are better managed than others and that…

Recommendations are made for a system of incentives at the state and local levels to ensure that highly capable people are attracted to and retained in the teaching profession. These recommendations include ways in which teachers can be empowered through expanding to new and more professional roles. An introduction to this report outlines issues…

Presents--as a case study--Spain's role in the history of Comparative Education during the nineteenth century. Deals with outstanding political and scholarly contributions as well as processes underlying and leading to the development of a specific, scientific study of foreign systems of education. (JHZ)

Based on the literature and interviews with personnel in the United Kingdom, this article identifies possible roles for information professionals in the design and development of expert systems. The need for training in expert systems, communications with computer scientists, and improved recognition of the information science profession are…

Urges music teacher certification to increase professionalism. Describes two certification programs that will begin to issue certifications during the 1990s: the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC). Expresses concern that certification will only be accepted if it focuses on…

The State University System of Florida's Teaching Incentive Program remains an undergraduate and quantity-based program, having changed only slightly to accommodate graduate and quality interests. Discussion of the program highlights issues of undergraduate vs. graduate and quantity vs. quality in faculty evaluation, and illustrates that numbers…