Offers a checklist to help adult educators make intelligent software selections. Stresses the need to try products before buying them, to have a grace period to test them with students, to look for reviews, and to get a detailed list of hardware requirements. (JOW)

Suggests that Allison's novel "Bastard Out of Carolina" should join the list of works most frequently chosen for study in school. Notes that, as a narrator, Allison speaks clearly to the social and economic structures which disempower females. (RS)

Presents annotations of 17 nonfiction books for children published in 1995, selected as outstanding nonfiction choices for 1995 by the Orbis Pictus Award committee. (SR)

Considers what ideology is reflected in the books that are available through Christian bookstores and Christian publishing houses. Discusses Christian fiction in general, liberation theology, and multiculturalism in literature. Offers an analysis of four books that are top sellers for their publishing house. (SG)

Describes four-step process suburban school district in central Texas used to hire a new superintendent: Collaborate with all stakeholders, create a profile based on stakeholder input, communicate the profile to a broad base, and interview candidates with a clarity of purpose based on the profile. (Contains 22 references.)(PKP)

Suggests that children learn to use language in culturally specific ways. Presents three ways in which to connect children to text: choosing books that relate to children's lives; teaching book reading behaviors explicitly; and making books come alive. (SG)

Former principal suggests several ways to make principal's job more manageable: Revise the principal's job description, improve professional preparation, provide ongoing professional development, provide more support, improve management practices, and strengthen staff hiring. (PKP)

Compares two superintendent searches for the River Dell School District in New Jersey: One conducted primarily by a professional recruiting firm; the other by the board, a search firm, and a community search committee. Concludes that adding a community search committee is inefficient and divisive. (PKP)

Presents annotations of 30 trade books on this year's list of Young Adults' choices that are the results of voting by students in five different regions of the United States. Notes that the books selected were published in 2001 and each book had to have at least two positive reviews from recognized sources. (SG)

Argues for a more principled and careful consideration of composition handbooks. Discusses the values and measures used to evaluate handbooks, what constitutes the act of writing, what constitutes good writing, and who writes and why. Lists questions to serve as a guide for instructors in handbook selection. (TB)

Addresses affirmative action's success at creating a more equal workplace. Explores some potential psychological costs of this policy--costs that paradoxically may undermine its objectives--and their implications for achieving the goal of workplace equality. (GR)

Describes how to connect to the RealAudio Web site to download a player that provides sound from Web pages to the computer through streaming technology. Explains hardware and software requirements and provides addresses for other RealAudio Web sites are provided, including weather information and current news. (LRW)

Describes how some textbook publishers pay professors to review their books and then assign them to students, increasing sales. Critics say the practice is unethical--and growing. (EV)

Discusses how, as they struggle to improve academically and manage their facilities and finances more effectively, some school systems--especially large urban districts--are seeking out leaders with business expertise outside the field of education. Includes sidebars on one such leader and on schools that have chosen this path. (EV)

Data on 15,253 newly hired employees were coded by hiring source (employee referral, other informal, temporary worker, formal, unspecified). Analysis suggested that referrals were less likely when candidates were not of the same gender or race as most current employees. Minorities used networking more but knew fewer people able to recommend them.…