Offers sociometric analysis of the central office staff of an urban school district with respect to their knowledge of and attitudes toward school-based innovations. Results show personnel had no clear understanding of what innovation is or of the complexity inherent in implementation processes. Lack of leadership, overreliance on external…

The theme of this issue is effective teaching in agricultural education. Articles discuss teacher preparation, teaching methods, teacher effectiveness, student involvement, and supervised agricultural experience program awards. (JOW)

In an Ontario pilot project, one elementary school became a teacher education center, the site of all practicum sessions for 18 student teachers, who were assigned in pairs. Student teachers, cooperating teachers, and faculty advisors endeavored to develop a supportive open environment of reflection and intellectual inquiry. (SV)

Describes eight conditions that facilitate the adoption, implementation, and institutionalization of educational technology innovations and suggests applications to the transfer of portable software. Applications of these conditions involving educational technology in Indonesia, Chile, and Peru are evaluated, and guidelines for successful…

Describes the revitalization of Evarts High School in a poverty-stricken area of rural Kentucky. Reforms included (1) adding 120 electives to the curriculum; (2) beginning a school news service; (3) producing a weekly video program aired on cable television; and (4) offering privilege cards for attendance, achievement, and participation in…

Describes the life and work of Samuel Read Hall, an innovative educator who influenced the future of education. Includes information on his early life, his innovative use of the blackboard, and his development of the first school for educating teachers. Describes some of his methods of teaching history and geography, some of which are still used.…

The University of Alabama's Program for Rural Services and Research uses the following strategies to nurture rural schools: (1) awards program in writing; (2) school newspaper competition; (3) placement of student teachers; and (4) playground development. The Alabama Coalition of Citizens for Excellence in Small Schools gives rural residents a…

Reviews seven books that deal with school choice. Among the topics covered are the history of school choice, Catholic schools, and the proliferation of choice programs and the controversy surrounding them. Information on ordering the books is provided. (MLF)

Considers the rationale for and some of the uses of portfolios in an educational context. Discusses assessment and teacher education uses for portfolios and offers portfolio development guidelines. (MG)

One District of Columbia high school offers a program designed to attract and introduce high school students to teaching. It is one of several such programs nationwide. Most candidates come from school systems with high percentages of minority students. The program hopes to help ease the shortage of minority teachers. (SM)

Highly visible roster of villains--people who have retarded or damaged public education--would encourage those in power to exercise more perspicacity. Top baddies are Congress (for lobbying for curative instead of preventive programs), Lewis Terman (for advocating tracking), James Bryant Conant (for advising high schools to become larger). All…

Excerpts from the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development's report "Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century," issued in 1989, indicate the need to develop a more adolescent-centered approach to education in the middle grades that is very similar to the basic ideas of the Montessori method. (MDM)

The Empowered School District Project is a three-year endeavor to facilitate the creation of empowered schools in nine school districts across the country. Discusses six themes that emerged in the change process: (1) framing; (2) process and content; (3) trust; (4) risk taking; (5) communication; and (6) critical mass and critical incident. (18…

Presents a reflective review of radical attempts in Tanzania to change the system of higher education from a liberal elitist model based on a British heritage to a proletarian system in which university education is conceived of as a form of adult education recruiting students from their places of work and not directly from the school system. (KS)

Cites studies showing that U.S. students are inadequately prepared for competition with foreign workers and are uninformed about the international environment. Argues that the community college student population is an excellent target for expanding study abroad programs. Describes a program designed for the nontraditional, working student and the…