Discusses the challenge of providing preservice teachers with the knowledge and skills needed for effective participation in a democratic society. Focuses on the importance of understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens living in a democracy. Emphasizes citizenship for a democracy, dimensions of effective classroom management and…

Explores the concept of decentralization within South Africa. Examines the policy impact of participation and democratization in relation to the powers and functions of school governing bodies. Concludes by considering the gap between rhetoric and practice in relation to attempts to entrench democracy and participation at the school level. (CAJ)

Provides an annotated bibliography of 15 current documents from the ERIC database related to community college leadership. Provides sources related to guidelines for effective leadership, building relationships, shared governance, and future challenges facing leaders. (BCY)

Explores ideas parents hold about issues underlying current constructivist school reforms. Summarizes semistructured interview data from 34 Midwestern parents concerning elementary schooling goals, how learning occurs, teachers' classroom roles, assessment of children's learning, and parents' roles in education. Parents agreed more on the means…

Equipment use in outdoor education is secondary to having clear goals and sound pedagogy. Examples from the authors' 21-day canoe expeditions to the Canadian tundra illustrate how the reflection component of an outdoor program can mitigate the potential negative side effects of emerging technology. Involving the group in decisions concerning…

The superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky) describes an administrative restructuring process that removed layers of bureaucracy and dramatically improved principals' and teachers' shared decision-making opportunities and increased their enthusiasm and commitment. The key is willingness to take risks and remaining open to new…

Educators embarking on school-based management/participative decision-making report changes in relationships not only between administrators and teachers and between management and unions, but also between teachers and their union. Decentralization means teacher empowerment at the local level, collaborative bargaining, union involvement with…

Under the guidance of a new superintendent, an underfunded and uninspired rural New England school district galvanized community support for school improvement and completely revitalized its program through collaborative decision making. Goal setting, used by individual classroom teachers, committees, and administrative teams, became part of the…

After principals have involved all stakeholders in developing a school mission and identifying critical success factors, the planning team must analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within and outside the school; establish strategic goals (outcomes) to support the future vision; and develop objectives and target dates. Includes…

Discusses the importance of teachers' job satisfaction in light of a teacher shortage. Recommends ways in which principals, school districts, education schools, and teachers can collaborate to provide opportunities for teacher satisfaction. (RJC)

Study of five sets of work process variables and their relationship to role conflict and overload among public sector nurses and engineers found managerial strategies appropriate for minimizing role conflict not necessarily appropriate for minimizing role overload. Some work process predictors may be similar across professions, and managerial…

Studied joint decision-making strategies of small task group (N=8) over 15-month period. Found 4 problem areas contributing to lack of productivity: expertise, self-oriented needs, permissive operating procedures, and formal status differences. Results suggest important differences between group participants' desire to use participatory strategies…

This article proposes rules of thumb about the teacher education design process. The rules are grounded in the attempts at reforming teacher education at Washington University in the early 1970s, at a time during which a year-long, field-based alternative to the traditional elementary program was operated. (IAH)

Teacher empowerment requires investing in teachers the right to participate in the determination of school goals and policies and the right to exercise professional judgment about the content of the curriculum and means of instruction. Implications of this conception and the kind of school leadership it requires are discussed. (IAH)

Describes the system of shared decision making used by the Bay Shore (New York) Union Free School District. Discusses the following major elements: (1) long-range planning; (2) staff development; and (3) commitment. (FMW)