Contrast between the appearances and the reality of several aspects of a school environment, including a participative management style, a democratic leadership style, the principal's image as democratic, and attentiveness to student needs is discussed as related to a boarding school in Israel. During an exploratory case study, observations were…

An analysis is provided of the governance system of the California community colleges based on a case study of one example of decision making. First, background information is provided on the history of the California community college system, with particular focus on state and local decision-making processes. The next sections address the…

An examination of problems inherent to class size concepts suggests possible arrangements, given limited resources, for providing optimal classroom environments. Among the problems in determining class size are ambiguous definitions, measurement problems, and contradictory research findings. Traditional definitions of class size ignore such…

Interviews with 14 experienced educators on the current state of education in the United States are presented in this booklet. The experts discuss the current tasks facing educators, the need for redefining the teaching profession, and the importance of rethinking the area of educational finances. The conversations reflect concerns about…

Besides setting the tone for accomplishing student learning goals and effecting improvement, school climate serves as a determinant of teacher attitudes toward personal and professional growth and development. Bureaucratization of schools decreases teacher effectiveness through rules, controls, and reduced autonomy and authority. The formal…

Among the 96 papers presented at this conference are the following: "Team Building Techniques that Get Results" (Berg); "The Subtleties of Communication in Small Group Meetings" (Henry); "Feedback--Its Role in Team Building" (Lucas); "Group Dynamics--Success through Interaction" (Manning, Johnson); "The Able-Bodied Handicapped: Bridging the Gap"…

This report documents a hearing to extend authorization of appropriations under the Vocational Education Act of 1963. The discussion focuses on the role of the state advisory councils in vocational education. Testimony includes prepared statements, letters, and supplemental materials from advisory council members from Pennsylvania, New York,…

This booklet explains the concept of a community exchange system (CES), or barter system, for the exchange of goods and services and describes how to set one up. The booklet is concerned only with nonprofit, voluntary organizations. The booklet is organized in four sections. The first section introduces the community exchange systems idea and…

Teacher inservice education coordinators working with approximately 130 school districts were asked to report on their use of, and to rate the effectiveness of, 11 planning practices. The study's purpose was to determine if the emphasis in the literature of the past decade on collaborative planning and needs assessments beyond a teacher survey…

A comparison of leadership theory and administrative theory will help to show whether there is a conflict for educational administrators between being a leader and being an administrator. Two definitions of leadership stress the importance of initiating activities within a group. In education, leadership necessitates decision-making within an…

This article presents an abbreviated report of a study to develop a model for achieving student participation in the governance of senior high schools. It also presents a blueprint for the implementation of this model in existing schools. For the study, a survey was done of a representative sample of senior high school students, teachers, and…

The ethical primacy of patient involvement in treatment decision-making requires that more attention be paid to assessment of a patient's competency to make treatment decisions. Makes recommendations to increase sensitivity to this issue with significantly impaired elderly nursing home patients and to improve existing decision-making procedures.…

Discusses the historical and conceptual framework of quality circles, presents a brief case history of circles initiated by the University of Maryland Office of Admissions, and provides a summary of implications. Emphasizes implications for student affairs administrators. (Author/ABB)

Career ladder and other incentive programs are resisted when teachers and administrators involved in the programs are removed from the initial decision making process. The ideal scenario is described. Implications for teacher educators are discussed. (Author/MT)

Management theory as a morally neutral science aiming to improve educational institutions is doomed to failure. School administration is inescapably bound up with ethical values and depends on democratic decision making by staff with high self-esteem. Staff with little confidence or pride in their work cannot make good decisions. Includes 13…