Author looks through his glass darkly and sees problems for schools at all levels. We note his words of caution and look forward to some responses with the "view through the eyes of the optimist." (Editor)

Examines under what conditions decentralization of facilities is rational for a client-centered system of service or administration, and under what conditions great centralization is more cost effective. Possible extensions of a simple model are suggested for application to school systems and numerous other organizations. (Author/DN)

A decade after the establishment of a library system, Spring Valley's Finkelstein Library has seceded from the system. (Author)

The advantages of centralized school systems are presented. (CK)

Used a sample of national firms (N=836) to investigate the relationship between specialization, formalization, and centralization in the functional work unit. Data indicated that the three variables compose a single dimension of organizational structure. Another finding was that, within this dimension, specialization, formalization, and…

The Irish education system is a privatized, state-funded patchwork, with five separate types of secondary schools whose governance structures vary according to church, state, or local authority ownership. A 1995 government white paper recommends a more coherent governance structure with state, regional, and school-site decision-making levels.…

Discusses the study of libraries as complex organizations and describes theoretical organizational models that have been used to investigate libraries. The concepts of complexity, centralization, and formalization are examined; occupational specialty, professional training, and knowledge specialization are explored; and further research is…

The Washington-based America 2000 system may be as close to a genuine national network as education in the 1990s will get. Riddled with inconsistencies, the network is becoming a nationwide "meeting-place" for reformers supporting the general concept of educational reform without the financial obligations. America 2000 is a top-down…

Regarding Australian educational administration, the more it changes, the more it remains the same. When Freeman Butts studied Australian education in 1955, centralization was the dominant, much-criticized mode. Butts proposed devolution to improve educational decision making. His thoughts are once again topical, as Australian states and other…

Models through which higher education provides outreach include centralized, decentralized, and hybrid. The latter, academically integrated and administratively decentralized, meshes continuing education programs with the academic mission while maximizing cost effectiveness. (SK)

A central food service production facility combined with a central warehouse and commissary has been financially effective in Dayton, Ohio. (MLF)

Describes how Deer Park School District, Long Island, New York, is saving money while boosting efficiency by centralizing its high-volume printing and duplicating operations. The new arrangement saves space, time, and expenses. (LMI)

Higher education institutions in Brazil are seriously behind in the use of distance education largely because of the highly centralized control by the Ministry of Education. Hybridization, or the combination of face-to-face and distance learning techniques, is not motivated by pedagogical choice, but rather the only legally permitted approach in…

The theme of the 38th meeting of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME 38) and the 36th meeting of the North American Chapter of the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME-NA 36) was "Mathematics Education at the Edge." Academically, the theme provides opportunities to highlight and examine…

Decentralization and recentralization are continuing phenomena in large bureaucracies, each cyclically emerging to prominence. The current decentralization strategy for large city school systems can only be successful in conjunction with continuing (though altered) centralized functions. (Author)