A Bedford, Massachusetts, middle school lived through a series of critical incidents while moving into site-based management. Flaps developed over minute-taking responsibilities in faculty meetings and a student exchange arrangement with an inner-city middle school. A "pyramiding" process to close the communication gap helped maintain…

Examines contemporary sociological conceptions of "deviance" and "resistance" in youth culture studies. Explores whether the notion of "playfulness" is applicable to the understanding of disruptive classroom behavior. The "asides" developed by certain class members are linked to the official lesson's…

Studies the significance of memorandum subject lines (the thematic titles or topic statements of memorandums) through an analysis of 483 memorandums. Describes a taxonomy which classifies a subject line as either neutral (introducing a topic without revealing the writer's intention) or directed (revealing intention). Argues that the taxonomy…

Examines the types of comprehension problems that students experience in classrooms and the tactics they use to resolve those problems. Reports meaningful distinctions among classroom comprehension problems, and finds that the tactics used vary systematically in relation to the situation (class size and instructional format) and the type of…

Identifies five types of parent participation, including basic obligations of parents and schools and parental involvement at school, in home learning activities, and in governance and advocacy. These types occur in different places, require different materials and processes, and lead to different outcomes. No one model serves all purposes. (MLH)

Examined recruiters' attitudes regarding various hiring characteristics (communication, job selection, appearance) and their impact during initial campus interviews. Questionnaires were completed by 95 recruiters visiting West Virginia University and representing business/industry, hospitals/clinics, and public education. Results revealed that…

All child abuse-related patients (n=503) seen at 1 Cape Town (South Africa) hospital over a 1-year period were reviewed. Abuse was confirmed in 389 cases (160 physical abuse and 229 sexual abuse). Most (81 percent) of the young children were seen by residents with minimal pediatric training. Lack of staff speaking Xhosa (spoken by 134 of the…

Portrays a (British) sixth-form college's experiences while preparing for incorporation. Analyzes recent developments of interest to education managers facing externally imposed change. Focuses on communication and consultation structures, the changing balance of power as institutions become independent entities, and industrial relations in a new…

Accounting students (n=237) perceived closed-mindedness and one-sided communication as the most serious barriers to communication in campus interviews; they viewed barriers as less serious than did business students. Recruiters were less concerned than students with prejudice/bias and lack of feedback and more with lack of credibility or interest.…

Presents information on deafness and deaf people that is helpful to librarians communicating with deaf patrons. Communication modes and preferences are discussed, including speaking and facial expression, speech reading, lipreading, and sign language; and methods of optimizing conditions for good communication are described. (11 references) (LRW)

Discusses cultural disintegration and religious, political, and social disputes in light of Columbus' quincentenary. Cites historical encounters between Europeans and native populations of the United States (inability to recognize the human nature of strangers, misunderstanding sexual mores, and rapid degeneration from friendship and simple…

Surveys experts to establish the importance of 87 content areas for an intercultural business communication course. Finds 22 of the content areas to be essential, 65 to be important, and none to be unimportant. (RS)

Educators who do not speak Spanish must learn to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking parents. Administrators should ensure that some staff member is fluent in both written and oral Spanish ensure that essential written materials are printed correctly, invest in translation devices, learn the language, demonstrate interest in parent's…

Examines the stress experienced by 10 teachers involved in a school merger in North England. Teachers were interviewed twice prior to the merger and once after. Results confirm the stressful nature of school mergers. The most acute stress probably stemmed from the uncertainty and lack of information provided, coupled with the threat of…

Randomly assigned to 1 of 156 conditions, 256 adults evaluated either a patronizing or a neutral conversation between a nurse and an elderly nursing home resident. Nurses using patronizing styles were viewed as less respectful or nurturant and residents as less satisfied. Results held true for personal situation topics but not for resident…