The role of staff development in establishing charactertistics of an effective school was examined in order to illuminate associations. A framework was used to categorize these characteristics into three critical dimensions. Two consistent patterns emerged that are described and used to present broad guidelines for the conduct of staff…

The author discusses the role, make-up, establishment, and workings of the placement department advisory board within a proprietary school. (CH)

To ensure full participation in establishing school system goals, the Iowa City (Iowa) schools initiated a priority-setting exercise in which all 600 professional employees (and community members) participate. The process involves gathering ideas and status reports, holding workshops, making progress reports, presenting new priorities to staff,…

An interview with a former principal reveals the principal's point of view regarding the delicate PTA-principal partnership, including discussion of: parent-principal relationships; principals' fears of parent organizations; points of conflict in such relationships; and parents' roles in decision making. (CB)

Secretary of Education William Bennett discusses the importance of elementary education and elementary school teachers and what he hopes "First Lessons: A Report on Elementary Education in America" will accomplish. (MT)

Civic education has been assigned a low priority. Team effort and team competition should be as prominent in cerebral development as in athletics in order to improve citizen skills and citizen orientation. Reward structures are needed where collective problem solving is more highly prized than individual achievement. (RDN)

The representation of large corporations on the advisory committees of executive branch departments and regulatory agencies declined in the years 1973 and 1977, probably because of provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972. Representation generally reflected an intersection of corporate economic interests with department and agency…

Assessment of West German and Japanese systems of worker participation and of attempts to adapt these models to the United States do not provide conclusive evidence that these methods improve productivity and job satisfaction. (SK)

Quality Circles are a participative management technique allowing employees opportunities to participate in decisionmaking and problem-solving processes at work. A Wisconsin vocational school successfully implemented Quality Circles with management and nonmanagement staff participating. (MD)

Describes the complex West Germany system of involving employees in the management of large industrial companies. (IRT)

The report considers the climate of participation, preparation given the staff, areas of decision making, the role of the professional staff association, and the reaction of staff to such participation. (Author)

The study revealed the degree of influence of the local teacher membership, state affiliate union, and teacher negotiator on decisions concerning working conditions and agreements. Data strongly suggested that the local teacher membership, the state affiliate union, and the teacher negotiator had influenced decision making concerning working…

Examines ways in which committees are used in institutional governance in higher education. Discusses the impact of campuswide committees on the ability of administrators to work effectively, maintain a leadership role, and make prompt decisions. Identifies the negative factors involved in committee use and suggests alternatives to remedy…

The participatory management philosophy is alive and well at numerous institutions of higher education. Results, both objective and subjective, are in evidence at many colleges and universities and lend validity to the perception that participatory management can, and does, work if properly nurtured by top administrators in a collegial…

The development of a women's literacy and health project in Canada was based on research linking literacy, health, and income; the relationship between literacy and health promotion; and the value of participatory education for health promotion. (SK)