Researchers presented 43 administrators at a large midwestern university with 22 hypothetical organizational problems in which authority was absent or unclear, to test models of the effects of contextual factors on insiders' and outsiders' decisions to participate in organizational "political" issues. The results led to revisions of the models.…

Outlines findings from a study of four western Canadian provinces that compared teachers', administrators', and school boards' perceived control over educational decision making in 32 areas. Educational decision making was found to be somewhat decentralized, but only in deciding grades do teachers hold the highest degree of control. (Author/WD)

There is a critical need for integrating basic legal concepts into social work curricula. Important content areas include: confidentiality, knowledge of when to seek court action, case recording, understanding legal rights of parents and children, giving substantial factual testimony, and use of one's authority for action. (MSE)

Demography, economics, concentrated decision making, and politicization, will constitute the future policymaking environment for education. In addition, these conditions are likely to have a direct effect upon educators themselves; they will provoke higher levels of conflict within and among education organizations. (Author/BW)

The exclusion of faculty members as managerial employees may seriously disadvantage all professional employees, the very group the National Labor Relations Act was amended to protect. (Journal availability: Dennis & Company, 251 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203.) (MSE)

School counselors must plan for and develop appropriate change strategies. To do this, they must be aware of the characteristics of the school organization and their own role in it. (JAC)

This paper examines the literature on the role of the rural elementary school in community change and discusses certain socio-economic factors which may help determine a community's acceptance or rejection of the school. It concludes with a discussion on the relationship of the community to the community school. (Author/SJL)

The University of Toledo's Adult Liberal Studies program is described. Some steps to consider before implementing a new program include clearly establishing a need for the program, determining where power lies, formulating objectives, and making students aware of the experimental nature of the program. (MLW)

Proposes the transfer of authority from the principal to a board of teachers and parents. (Author/JM)

Examines forces which are undermining the principal's leadership role and ability to effectively administer the school: teachers and unions; the competency movement; political and community interest groups; and media pundits. (SJL)

The multidimensionality of the power concept has been more systematically explicated, but research efforts continue to be primarily concerned with decision-making outcome. Perhaps the documented patterns of slightly husband-dominant, though increasingly shared or equalitarian, decision making reflect a change in normative expectations rather than…

The importance of a comparison of national systems of higher education is argued. Examples of how cross-national comparison can be instructive are presented. The importance of studying academic power or authority comparatively is discussed and several guides for future research are offered. (Author/MLW)

Examines potential effects of teacher activities in professional negotiations and suggests some possible reactions by management. (JD)

The author describes and analyzes general administration and control of the learning environment in one Cameroonian lycee, arguing that conflict occurred due to the fact that the administrators and faculty members were from several different cultures and they, therefore, held strikingly different opinions about legitimate authority relationships.…

This study uses power-dependence theory as a framework for examining whether and how parties use information on each other's dependence to estimate the utility of an influence attempt. The effect of dependence in expected utilities is investigated (by role playing) in bargaining between employer and employee for a pay raise. (MF)