Researchers examined foreign language teachers' perceptions of their work environment, specifically how teachers in differing school contexts defined instruction and how contextual definitions related to classroom behavior. The social organization determined how teachers' daily experiences affected their beliefs, cognitions, and behaviors and the…

Looks at work systems that draw on quality engineering and management concepts and use incentives. Discusses how some U.S. companies improve performance and maintain high quality. Suggests that the federal government strategy should include measures to support change in production processes and promote efficient factors of production. (JOW)

Teachers are limited in their power to control professional development. Even with good promotional efforts, teacher development often is unconnected to broader questions about education in a democratic society. The paper argues for genuine efforts to promote teacher development that are connected to promotion of equity and social justice. (SM)

Constituting the initial phase of a longitudinal study, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to determine the prevalence of critical-incident stress and related symptoms among funeral directors (N=725). Results are related to age group and type of stressor. Implications for counseling people with work-related stress are discussed. (EMK)

Investigates teacher receptivity to a proposal to relocate year 7 primary classes to secondary schools in the Western Australia Catholic school system. Receptivity was strongly and positively related to the perceived practicality of the change and moderately, positively related to the readiness of year 7 students for secondary school. (27…

A survey of 575 spouses of Nebraska school administrators portrayed mounting pressure from increasing work demands. Fully 90% indicated that afterhours activities are exhausting and disruptive to family life. Other problems include dual home/office personalities, everyday job stress, unshared child-rearing responsibilities, and loneliness. Still,…

Introduction of the advanced skills teacher (AST) classification into Australian schools is a poignant example of how discursive practices shape the lives of teachers through patterns of reward, processes, and criteria. In recognizing certain skills as advanced (and devaluing others), the AST process has encouraged, even mandated, their…

Like other organizations, camps need creativity, which breeds originality, improvement, inspiration, and renewal. Explains three broad types of creativity, describes characteristics of organizations that encourage creativity, lists barriers to creativity, and discusses ways that administrators can foster creativity in staff. A sidebar lists…

Analyzes a school-improvement process's potential to foster professional community in three rural middle schools through organizational learning. Findings of a two-year qualitative case study reveal bureaucracy/community tensions and isolate four influential community-building factors: principal leadership, organizational history, organizational…

Presents the use of research designs that can be used by human resource specialists to evaluate and monitor work force diversity and minority employment. Compares results of Repeated Measure Analyses of Variance with One Within-subjects Factor design with Repeated Measure Analyses of Variance with One Within-subjects Factor by job category. (JOW)

Reports British research findings that challenge the bias that child labor is a problem of only economically underdeveloped countries. Argues that child employment is evident within developed countries, but is largely invisible. Addresses positive and negative effects, and challenges to child labor/child work dichotomy. Debates underlying causes…

A survey of 53 employers found they were quite capable of providing workplace accommodations for workers with significant disabilities, drawing on existing employer resources. Employers are going beyond compliance with federal law and responding to needs in areas such as career advancement, changing something about a job, and social integration.…

Surveys employees (N=4,979) of an Australian state railway to determine self-reported employee alcohol use and the influence of work-related risk factors on this use. Examination of risk factors previously associated with work-related problem drinking showed that gender, nights away from home for work, job satisfaction, and availability of alcohol…

Discusses the functional range of English and its penetration into Hungarian society and shows that in just a few years English has become an essential tool for modernization and economic development and a significant medium in the tourist and entertainment industries as well as education. The need for and use of English in the workplace has had a…

This review considers the prevalence and nature of physically aggressive behaviors by people with mental retardation and describes possible causal factors. The present status of both behavioral and pharmacological interventions for aggression are assessed, and the importance of devising reactive management plans for aggressive behaviors is…