Four years ago, a very small group of teachers at a Stockton, California, high school recognized that the school must make some dramatic changes in curriculum, governance, and educational philosophies. This article shares pitfalls and surprises encountered in teachers' struggle to create a climate for change and implement their new vision. (seven…

The key element in parental involvement is a sense of parent-school partnership. Parents can participate as decision makers, helpers, and coeducators. Facilitating parental involvement means removing five barriers: distance between parents and teachers, lack of teacher training, race and class biases, limited views of parental involvement, and…

Explains the use of proper collaboration when planning and designing an athletic facility. Consultation with the coach and athletic staff is stressed along with an explanation of administrating the planning process. An example of one school's answer to balancing athletics and academics is provided. (GR)

Focuses on whether a collective mind forms in large-group writing in the workplace. Discusses "collective form" in two senses. Describes how group leaders prominently displayed a task completion check-off chart that, in a downsizing environment, helped both to coordinate group activity and to encourage completion. Discusses pedagogical…

Offers an overview of what it means to educate for a democratic life in the elementary school. Discusses three guiding questions: How can educators work together so that everyone benefits?; What is already known about the democratic process and what else should educators find out?; and Is everyone included in trying to solve this problem? (SR)

Recommends that every higher education institution has at least one current professor from another college or university on its board of trustees, explaining how this can enrich the board's perspectives and deliberations. Presents three examples to illustrate what faculty can add. Discusses the importance of learning from collective judgment and…

Describes a methodology used by the Texas A&M University system to monitor the efficiency with which resources are employed. This participatory method of institutional choice can be used to plan for financial setbacks. (EV)

Organizational citizenship--behavior that promotes organizations without explicit reward--was measured in a survey of 512 employees and 91 supervisors. Involvement in work organization increased citizenship behavior indirectly by changing job characteristics. Involvement in decisions about employment practices had little or no effect. (SK)

Discusses the need for schools to not only teach students about their rights and responsibilities as citizens, but to encourage them to practice these principles though active involvement in various school activities. Describes how some schools have accomplished the latter by implementing a concept called "youth infusion" involving…

Until recently, higher education institutions (HEIs) had been relatively free to pursue their own individual strategies, on the assumption that their combined effect would add up to a national strategy for higher education. As long as demand outstripped supply, market failures were not an issue. With supply and demand more in balance, the number…

The purpose of this study was to examine the process of developing a strategic plan for school districts through communication and involvement of all stakeholders. This process takes into consideration the diverse concerns and principles; supports scholarly and coherent decision making; and employs the development of a strategic plan through both…

The schools would benefit more from the perspective and idealism of students, if they become leaders in an educational community. The two crucial skills that enable students to develop the attitudes necessary for becoming leaders in a school community are, encouraging the development of listening and consensus building skills.

The growing number of children with disabilities who are served in general education classrooms has made it necessary for general and special education teachers to work together to ensure that all students receive an appropriate education. As the instructional leader, the school principal is presented with the challenge of facilitating and guiding…

This paper reports on a study of the role of parent governors in five neighbouring rural primary schools in Zimbabwe. The study proposed that despite the presence of a legal decentralised school governance structure in which parents form the majority, they did not have the capacity to function effectively therein, and were still marginalised in…

Special education professionals can play a critical role in enhancing the quality of life not only for a child with a disability but also for that child's entire family. To realize this beneficial impact on the child's family, professionals must operate with these assumptions: (1) Special education professionals must acknowledge that they have a…