In examining the relationships among various educational institutions, one must bear in mind a set of concepts that (1) take into account the organization of educative institutions as well as the ways in which individuals move through different educational settings and (2) focuses on the processes by which the individuals select from and transform…

Uses Israel as an example to examine three variables--size, organizational mode, and political value system--and their effects on educational policy making and planning at a national level. Argues that in Israel's case small size, centralization, and democracy interact to create a new type of planning behavior termed the enlightenment approach.…

Current and proposed Swedish university admission criteria are presented as a reflection of government attitudes about the value of certain kinds of educational backgrounds. Another approach based on different kinds of measures of academic ability is also outlined. (MSE)

An American educator evaluates education experts' current infatuation with the Japanese educational system. She cautions against importing Japan's educational methods to the United States and urges educators to look at the cultural values that produce both systems. She provides thoughtful anecdotes from her experiences visiting Japanese schools to…

Discussion of implementation plans for the introduction of microcomputers into secondary schools in Bahrain highlights the establishment of training programs for teachers, selection of appropriate hardware, and development of an Arabic Standard for software design. A brief overview of the structure of Bahrain's school system is given. (Author/LRW)

Examines the reasons for test-centered educational reform and suggests that this has lead to decreased reliance on professional judgment and increased state regulations. Predicts that the operation of the schools as organizations will continue to be affected by the increased reliance on technical evidence. (MLF)

The role of distributed computing continues to pose challenges, from organizational strategies to definitions and fundamental understandings of the terms. Concerns within the framework of management changes and organizational structures are addressed. (Author/MLW)

The planning and implementation of a computerized management information system at a fictional small college is described. Nine key points are made regarding department involvement, centralization, gradual program implementation, lowering costs, system documentation, and upper-level administrative support. (MSE)

Outlines findings from a study of four western Canadian provinces that compared teachers', administrators', and school boards' perceived control over educational decision making in 32 areas. Educational decision making was found to be somewhat decentralized, but only in deciding grades do teachers hold the highest degree of control. (Author/WD)

A drastic restructuring of the governance and administration of education in Quebec is likely to fuel the debate on the role of parents in controlling the school system. However, the concurrent drive toward centralization and standardization will probably allow parent committees to exercise only token power. (Author/WD)

This aricle describes the successful efforts of district arts teachers in saving their art programs in the face of declining enrollments. The Board of Education accepted the committee report, retaining all tenured and non-tenured staff, and was willing to make a substantial financial commitment to the fine arts program. (KC)

The author examines reasons why, historically and currently, a great deal of controversy in Italian education focuses on the provision of textbooks. He discusses such issues as single national textbooks, participation in selection, effects on teaching methods, provision of class libraries, and the requirement that parents pay for textbooks. (SJL)

Demography, economics, concentrated decision making, and politicization, will constitute the future policymaking environment for education. In addition, these conditions are likely to have a direct effect upon educators themselves; they will provoke higher levels of conflict within and among education organizations. (Author/BW)

Traces the post-war development of comprehensive educational reorganization in Great Britain by examining central government policy and local education authority (LEA) practices. Emphasizes the role of LEAs as implementors of policy and discusses the limitations of central control. (Author/KC)

Three articles describe the relocation of the chemistry branch library to the main academic library at Rutgers University (Newark, New Jersey) as part of a trend toward centralization. Highlights include user support for the move, including faculty and students; and the operations research methodology used for planning and implementing the move.…