Researchers surveyed 25 members of the Superintendency Institute of America concerning feasible strategies for building and maintaining a positive and trusting superintendent/board relationship. Respondents highlighted building trust, maintaining focus, communicating effectively, teaching the board, and being politically savvy as ingredients for…

Addresses concerns at the community, state, and federal level regarding illiteracy that have led to the demand for educational reform. Quotes statements from the 18th century to the present. Discusses the social/cultural context of literacy and learning, and casts a critical eye on several documents significant to the nation's view of literacy and…

Examines concerns regarding the current external and internal attacks on Basic Writing in relation to the entire field of composition studies. Argues that new "recognition work" is needed in Basic Writing. Exemplifies the possibility of developing the capacity to see local communities not as places to export composition's beneficence, but as…

Calls for focusing attention on the political obstacles to large-scale school reform rather than thinking of the problem mainly as one of disseminating information and helping individuals work through their fears about change. The natural outcome of urban politics is likely to be partial implementation of many programs rather than full-scale…

Examines the educational context in which the 1999 elections for the new Scottish Parliament took place. Outlines key educational policy issues, especially access to and provision for further and higher education. (SK)

Explores a powerful, complex novel full of extraordinary prose and very appealing to students: "MotherTongue" by Demetria Martinez. Describes several intriguing avenues the work offers for teaching both stylistically and thematically: politics, use of multiple genres, point of view, and prose. (SR)

Argues that teacher-researchers should search for ways to accommodate their writing about college composition to broader, nonacademic audiences to clarify and improve the prospects of literacy in democratic culture. Provides evidence of professional writers who have taken up the cause of speaking publicly, if not always ethically, about college…

Critiques "America Reads," a federal initiative (launched by President Clinton in 1996) to foster universal literacy by sending a million tutors into schools. Argues that the program fails to take into account much of what is known about best practices in literacy instruction, and that inexperienced or poorly trained tutors may present…

Explores the implications of the "discount store" metaphor as it is commonly used and understood. Argues that "K-Mart U" would emphasize a predictable level of quality and convenience, and recognize and honor that few students are as dedicated to the life of the intellect as professors, and design course requirements and assignments to assure…

Describes the author's experience as a professor who thought he had long ago shed his intercollegiate academic debate habits, when his university became embroiled in a debate about converting to a semester system. Describes a formal debate, the real debate on email, and how one can win the debate but still lose the decision in the real world of…

Presents two educators' stories: one that illustrates the Writing Program Administrator's need for improvisation when faced with pre-existing forms of hiring rationales, and another that considers how the required teacher preparation course may actually contribute to the instability of the writing program. (SG)

Considers how when literacy educators become more politically involved, they have more influence on the legislation that affects their own lives and their students' futures. Hopes to reach educators who are pessimistic about new standards and hopes they find practical suggestions for ways to better understand what new standards reforms and…

Examines the representation of gender and ethnicity in two female protagonists, Maria in "Simply Maria" and Alicia in "Alicia in Wonder Tierra." Demonstrates the cultural politics that direct how the protagonists negotiate gender identity within Mexican-American cultures. (SG)

Considers what role professional organizations play in helping educators live their lives as intellectuals. Notes that being an intellectual means engaging the world, acting on it and in it, reflecting on and learning from the events around them and from their interactions with others. Concludes that to experience being an intellectual, a…

Explores the professional and intellectual tensions in teaching English in recent times, focusing on Victoria, Australia. Argues that in the past few years all English teachers have been obliged to resist pressures toward reductive versions of literacy. Illustrates some specific literacy practices in secondary English classrooms which seek to…