This theme issue covers the following topics: modernization of agricultural education, an expanded mission for the field, community development, a national presence for agricultural education, revising curriculum, and interesting students in new careers in agriculture. (SK)

Mathematics educators have led the educational reform movement in recent years. New curricula and innovative teaching methods are emerging in elementary and secondary programs, as illustrated by the work of the College Board, University of Chicago, University of California at Berkeley and San Francisco, and the National Science Foundation. (MSE)

The recent bloating of college administrations has worsened rather than improved administrative performance whereas it has raised costs. Faculty can discover the extent of the problem on their campuses, then activate professional associations and faculty budget committees to call for gradual roll-back in the ratio of administrative to…

This paper traces the political and educational movements of both African-American and hearing-impaired U.S. individuals since 1960 and compares their common as well as disparate experiences in terms of social and political background, social attitudes, family relationships, education, and employment. Four suggestions are offered for advancing the…

Australia's efforts to restructure college personnel remuneration represent more than changes in salaries. They are an attempt to reform an outdated hierarchy of jobs, lack of recognition of job skills, limited access to promotion, and minimal professional development and to offer better opportunities and a fairer and more consistent…

The generalist-specialist continuum is not as useful an organizing concept for social work education as its supporters believe. Bachelor's and master's programs should be conceived as independent entities, with the bachelor's curriculum focusing on training case managers in public service agencies and the Master's program preparing graduates for…

Describes an experienced first grade teacher's efforts to create her place in what was defined by others as the change process. Researchers observed in her classroom and conducted interviews over one school year. She viewed herself not as changing, but rather as part of a slow, continuous process. (SM)

Total Quality Management is a team approach that challenges administrators to rethink their traditional decision-making and problem-solving strategies. This article describes the use of pilot programs (Key Communicators Network, School Leadership Teams, and a Number "One"derful Idea program) to help teachers feel part of a professional…

The placement of students in special education or compensatory programs can be justified only when student classification is valid and when the programs have distinctive qualities and show efficacy. Modified classifications, educational teaming, coordinated teacher preparation, and interagency cooperation will hopefully end disjointedness in…

A Colorado school district has adopted Total Quality Management (TQM) to improve quality and reduce costs. The basic components that drive continuous improvement in TQM are focusing on responding to customer needs, basing decisions on data, and allowing everyone to participate in the process. (MLF)

Discusses the impact of technology on the profession of librarianship and suggests changes that are necessary for librarians to adapt to their changing role. Topics addressed include focusing on the mission of librarianship, i.e., providing access to information; librarians' sense of self-worth; educational requirements; and technological…

Examines misconceptions in both Western and Eastern countries about educational systems in postcommunist Eastern Europe. Discusses issues of slow pace of educational reform, change through formal power structures, centralization versus decentralization, role of tradition, macro- and micro-level problems, Western assistance, and the relationship…

Describes problems of and lessons learned from the University of South Carolina's restructured preservice literacy methods course that encouraged and supported reflective inquiry and practice in literacy teaching. The course included an after school literacy tutoring program for at-risk children and parents. (SM)

Reports current ideas from the general organizational productivity literature to provide a broader context for restructuring schools. The article discusses work culture patterns (involving schoolwide planning, professional development, program development, and school assessment) and describes how to manage productive schools, presenting…

The market environment for higher education is being shaped by developments in technology, business practices, partnerships between education and industry, and adoption of Total Quality Management principles. Shrewd college administrators will combine competitiveness and cooperation to maintain or enhance their institutions' distinctiveness in the…