Contends that replacing administrators by teacher committees will not solve management problems and will give teacher unions too much power in the management of schools. (Author/TE)

Argues that school boards were introduced and retained during the 19 foundational years of state education in New South Wales, Australia, not as token partners or mere money-raisers, but as integral parts of the school system. The successes of local participation in frontier conditions were sufficient to justify the board's encouragement of local…

Today's administrator must realize that being a leader, not a manager, is the norm for successful organizations. Leadership at all organizational levels is imperative to achieving organizational objectives. Managers exercise leadership by establishing a vision, accepting responsibility, taking initiative, and empowering others. Empowerment is the…

Examined the relationship between individual interactional style, individual problem-solving behavior, and family problem-solving effectiveness in 431 intact rural families with 2 children, 1 of whom was in seventh grade. Results indicated that a hostile interactional style directly predicted destructive problem-solving behavior, whereas a warm…

Investigates the consequences of a contemporary natural experiment forced upon a lawyer who suffered a massive stroke and severe aphasia, losing almost completely the ability to speak meaningful language. With the help of therapists, he learned to speak three words. The author investigates how such coconstruction is accomplished. (41 references)…

Contends that, in the culture of professional egalitarianism that often prevails in schools, teachers are likely to accord power only to expert principals. Asserts that this can lead to weak coordination and control of a school's instructional program. Reports on results of a study of 17 elementary schools that support this viewpoint. (CFR)

Suggests ways to improve community college campus leadership delegation, understanding the faculty's historic role in academic areas, enhanced faculty participation in college governance, open channels of communication between faculty and board, a working affirmative action process, university focus on leadership, and identification of model…

For a school to be educationally successful, it must be a community of professionals working together toward a vision of teaching and learning. A school must develop a vision, determine decision-making processes, assess effectiveness of strategies, establish and clarify major goals, obtain control over resources, and avoid distraction. The League…

Moving toward site-based management, Greece (New York) Central School District administrators and the teachers' organization established a representative steering committee to coordinate and facilitate the decentralization process and develop a master plan. Benefits include increased faculty understanding, improved school climate, and increased…

At a Suburban New Jersey elementary school, the principal learned to let go and provide the means for staff to solve their own problems. Some lessons include learning to listen, establishing patterns of communication, understanding individual styles, promoting open communication, working to build trust, thinking with new perspectives, promoting…

The growing importance of shared decision making and decentralization is causing a reevaluation of skills required for the principalship. This study examined teacher and principal perceptions of skills required for principal effectiveness, using Katz's widely used taxonomy that classifies managerial skills as technical, human, and conceptual. Both…

This article describes 10 behaviors of day care center directors that undermine the team performance of the caregiving staff. Also described are three behaviors that are crucial to fostering successful teamwork. A day care center teamwork evaluation form for staff is provided. (BC)

Discusses the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child as it seeks to establish the right of children to participate in discussions and decisions about their own situations. Includes action taken by children around the world to promote participation. Stresses the necessity of participation to become responsible, active citizens in a democracy.…

Recently, the Petersburg (Virginia) Public Schools have moved away from a highly centralized organizational structure to a Total Quality Management system featuring shared decision making and school-based management practices. The district was guided by Deming's philosophy that all stakeholders should be involved in defining the level of products…

One criticism of school-based management is that teachers are being asked to make disjointed decisions rather than decisions tied together by a common vision of change. This article discusses SBM's influences in changing school culture and presents a model embodying teacher-leader cooperation to change school policies and practices and adopt a…