Institutions, individuals, policies, and interactions are identified as the four research perspectives that have guided most legislative studies and that could help to identify promising areas for future investigation of education issues. The discussion of each perspective includes a review of landmark research and comments on its contributions…

Reviewing the major points at the two teacher union conventions in 1983, this article outlines how both unions are responding to recent criticism of public education. The unions are involved in new public outreach efforts, and the most debated issue at both conferences was merit pay. (MD)

Federal educational statistical activities and federal support of research about higher education and institutional operations are activities that assist institutional research. Institutional research is defined to include studies, policy analyses, and information collection that help college administrators understand the internal operations and…

Discusses the Equal Rights Amendment issue within the American Library Association (ALA) and state library associations, noting key actions regarding the amendment taken by ALA and outlining the political activities of several women librarians in Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, and Illinois. (EJS)

Reports that the subject of leadership ranked high, but party policy was not ignored in editorials in four major British newspapers during the 1979 British general election. (FL)

Based principally on personal observations and on interviews with journalists and Kennedy staff members, this study analyzes the 1980 Kennedy campaign and focuses on (1) communicative considerations that affected the campaign; (2) stylistic characteristics that exemplified Kennedy's rhetorical problems; and (3) rhetorical highlights of two of his…

Considers the consequences of taking political blunders seriously as central objects of electoral discourse. Explores gaffes as possible degradation rituals and as contributions to the definition of the electoral process and to the information needs of voters who must make decisions within that process. (PD)

Notes that conspiracy charges have come to characterize mainstream political drama. Analyzes dimensions of the Watergate scandal so that the manner in which conspiracy rhetoric unfolds in political drama may be better understood. (PD)

The author traces his career from his days as an anthropology student through his work on a wide variety of government and institutional social science research projects. He comments on the politics involved in such research. (SJL)

With tongue-in-cheek a school board member in Berkeley (California) describes the board meetings during his first four months of service and offers insights into the political realities of decision making and the budget process in an era of retrenchment. (WD)

Presents a selection of language arts ideas related to the presidential election campaign. Activities cover critical listening, role playing, vocabulary development, reading, oral speaking, and writing. (SJL)

New York City's community school boards are too weak and buffeted by too many special interest groups to effectively represent parent interests or serve as successful agents in the decentralization process, though at least one board and the parents it represents show that stronger action is possible. (Author/PGD)

Reviews literature on traditional political symbology and its manipulation by regimes to minimize political protest from subordinate or negatively privileged groups. Topics discussed include content of symbols, theories of collective behavior, properties of symbols, symbol versatility, and the borrowing of symbols from religious/cultural groups…

The role and importance of the National Education Association's Political Action Committee is stressed, and a call to action is issued to the educational community. (LH)

The manner in which the National Education Association's Political Action Committee works is explained, and a request for financial support is issued to the teaching community. (LH)