Through participation in a Kettering Foundation project, the Lawrence North High School in suburban Indianapolis (Indiana) has successfully implemented a number of the management practices that apparently underlie the productivity of Japanese businesses. Led by the principal, the school has committed itself to four basic concepts from the Japanese…

An introduction, keynote address, and 12 selected papers present the conference's proceedings. Also provided are summaries of the seven other conference papers and of the final plenary session, along with a list of conference participants. The keynote address questions whether quality control is possible in education. It notes that the concept of…

A questionnaire survey of 1,506 teachers in 89 elementary and secondary schools in eastern Massachusetts examined teachers' reactions to declining enrollments and school district retrenchment policies. The hypotheses tested suggest that, in districts whose reduction-in-force (RIF) policies include performance evaluations as well as seniority as…

The early impact and subsequent expansion of the National Labor Relations Board v. Yeshiva University decision by the Supreme Court is reviewed. (MLW)

The processes used by the University of Washington to meet severe budget reductions mandated by the state are described. A planning philosophy of smaller size and higher quality was adopted, and program elimination occurred consensually, with faculty and student participation. (Author/MLW)

Examines some of the fears, frustrations, and misconceptions of library staff and patrons that hamper the effective use of computers in libraries. Strategies that library administrators could use to alleviate stress are outlined, including staff participation in the automation process, well-designed workstations, and adequate training for staff…

Analysis of instructional strategies associated with interaction-based teaching in a graduate course in higher education pinpoints critical incidents in the course's unfolding and resolution of testing, grading, and evaluation problems and their resolution. Teachers must be ready to share course control and leadership with the students. (MSE)

Outlines the benefits of community and staff councils at school sites and their role in advancing equity in education. Councils can promote equity by broadening the base of citizen participation and enabling schools to mobilize other community resources. Realization of equity benefits depends on the talents of council leaders. (SA)

Develops a theoretical context for understanding the evidence on effective schools. Analyzes how effective schools have surmounted a central problem of inner-city schools, recruiting and retaining good teachers. Argues that because principals in effective schools focus on improving student achievement, teachers have concrete, realizable goals…

Indicates that students and teachers must begin to develop awareness and skill at collaborative learning and that educators must create and maintain a demanding academic environment that makes social engagement in intellectual pursuits a part of students' educational development. (CRH)

This opinion paper explores the use of computers in the U.S. Public Education System, concluding that technology is underutilized and not fulfilled most of the educational promises attributed to the tool. Drawing upon research and personal experience, the paper explores 8 possible reasons for the problem, including: the computer itself; not enough…

In this article, the author discusses seven characteristics of classrooms that encourage maximum student participation in the education process: (1) democracy; (2) scientific method; (3) creativity; (4) change; (5) individualization; (6) socialization; and (7) problem solving. Using these concepts to make students part of the instructional…

This report looks at the conversion work in three large comprehensive high schools in Washington State with a focus on what was learned in the early years. Each school takes a unique approach but common themes emerge, including the importance of strong principal leadership, the use of data, a transparent decision-making process, and a commitment…

In 1988, only one-half of Philadelphia 9th-graders in comprehensive high schools moved into 10th grade. In the same year, The Pew Charitable Trusts funded the Philadelphia Schools Collaborative (PSC) to seed the restructuring of the city's 22 comprehensive high schools. With a set of programmatic guidelines culled from successful efforts across…

In an attempt to measure faculty involvement in college governance at historically black colleges and universities (HCBUs),a study was conducted in fall 1996 at a private, historically black institution in Alabama. Questionnaires, with 25 Likert-type scale items, were distributed at a faculty senate meeting; the response rate was 79 percent…