When school districts are awash in crisis, the superintendents are responsible for calming troubled waters. Superintendents should anticipate troublesome issues and communicate with all parties involved. If early efforts prove ineffective, superintendents must keep overall educational goals in mind, communicate frequently with board and press,…

Provides demographic profiles from "Executive Educator's" fourth annual survey of U.S. school executives. Regarding disaster preparedness, only a small percentage of all districts in earthquake-prone areas have earthquake and fire action plans. Concerning controversial issues, teaching about substance abuse, child abuse, and teen suicide meets…

Forecasts no major surprises during the U.S. Supreme Court's 1987-88 term. Like the "Edwards v. Aguillard" ruling against Louisiana's creation science law, upcoming decisions concerning religious issues (controversial textbooks and moments of silence) and free speech (language use and controversial subject matter in student publications)…

Recent statistics concerning teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are compelling reasons for reaching kids before they become sexually active. Comprehensive K-12 programs are essential, despite conflicts over abstinence, abstinence-but, and safer-sex approaches. Adverse program criticism can be diffused if administrators examine…

Decries the prevalence of "racism,""sexual harassment," and "speciesism" labels applied to supposed violators of "political correctness" (PC). When freedom of speech on college campuses is held hostage to political correctness, K-12 education is bound to be affected. This new brand of McCarthyism cheapens…

Direct-mail packages using public education and related issues (test scores, graduation prayer, textbook censorship, condom availability, and sex education programs) have become effective ways for special-interest groups to raise millions in operating funds. Polarizing issues and identifying clear enemies works well in the marketplace but poorly…

Discusses "Mozert v. Hawkins County Public Schools" (Tennessee), a case involving a controversial reading textbook offending fundamentalist parents of six middle school children. The Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling, holding that uniform use of the Holt textbook was not essential to the state's goals to teach reading.…

Recent statistics concerning teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are compelling reasons for reaching kids before they become sexually active. Comprehensive K-12 programs are essential, despite conflicts over abstinence, "abstinence-but," and safer sex approaches. Adverse program criticism can be diffused if administrators…