The chance to open a new school offers an exciting, if stressful, challenge to any school executive. In a case study involving a new middle school opening, a dearth of communication before the school opened continued throughout the year. Problems centered around faculty development and morale, governance and management, and curriculum.…

Describes the effects of budget cuts, faculty defections, and low morale on the reputation of the African American studies department at the University of California (Berkeley). The author examines the department's emergence as an intact, resilient, and vital model. (GLR)

To promote academic excellence and active teacher involvement, secondary school principals must advocate the "all students can learn" philosophy, focus on supervising instruction through classroom observation, understand and apply conferencing and coaching techniques to instructional improvement, and encourage decisions fostering greater…

An overview of the literature regarding work satisfaction in the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) profession indicates that ESL practitioners are basically satisfied with their work but are dissatisfied with promotions, pay, and some administrative aspects. Professional recognition is essential to ensuring work satisfaction and positive career…

A teacher who observed Foxfire classrooms in northern Idaho reports on teachers' doubts about whether they are measuring up to Foxfire standards and discusses the stages involved in the process of incorporating the Foxfire approach into one's individual classroom practices. (SV)

Teacher morale in Singapore is explored by means of a questionnaire administered to 415 teachers in 10 secondary schools, and, 4 months later, to 305 teachers in 6 other secondary schools. Analysis suggests that items cluster around three factors: (1) leadership synergy; (2) cohesive pride; and (3) personal challenge. (10 references) (MLF)

Presents a letter offering help for an overwhelmed first-year middle school teacher hating teaching. Offers a response from her former college professor commiserating with her, advocating survival as a perfectly good goal, offering four suggestions, and remembering his own desire to quit early in his teaching career. Includes the beginning…

Responds to an article in the same issue of this journal which examines factors influencing longevity in the career of a particular high school theatre arts teacher. Notes responses of some jurors regarding methodological concerns and theoretical grounding, but appreciates the writer's personal affinity with her subject and welcomes the…

Examined teacher morale and job satisfaction using data from interviews, surveys, and observations of teachers at an English primary school. Responses were diverse, with levels being low among some, high among others, and in between for most. Though teachers' perceptions of events and circumstances were similar, responses varied according to…

The need to recruit and retain teachers and improve morale has focused attention on the status of teaching as a profession. The generic term "status" has three relatively independent components: prestige, official status, and esteem. Enhancing teachers' professional status could improve their esteem without affecting their public…

Addresses general perceptions regarding student affairs work in higher education and the role of the student affairs staff member. Discusses the purpose and value of student affairs work in the face of negative perceptions about the profession. (GCP)

Argues that, in this time of teacher shortage, English educators must all reach out to encourage and help new teachers or struggling veteran teachers. Offers several examples of organized efforts (by professional groups, in districts and as individuals) to address this need. (SR)

Argues that recorded music from 1941-45 served as a domestic and overseas morale-booster for Americans. Discusses the audio images of home-front stability communicated to soldiers and provides a bibliography of over 60 popular recordings illustrating direct references to letter exchanges, epistolary tendencies in lyrical communication, and songs…

North Carolina's A+ program views teachers as professionals capable of improving curriculum and practice with intensive professional development. This in turn raises teacher morale and improves practice. The paper explains how A+ supports professionalism, describes its professional development model, and presents details on its intensive…

This national study examines those demographic characteristics and work life issues that may have an impact on the morale and satisfaction of midlevel student affairs leaders and their intentions to leave their positions. Using structural equation modeling, this study proposes to demonstrate the roles job satisfaction and employee morale play in…