Investigated incidence of anabolic steroid use among 380 competitive male and female bodybuilders in Kansas and Missouri. Results indicated more than half (54 percent) of the male bodybuilders were using steroids on a regular basis compared to 10 percent of the female competitors. Found main reason for use of steroids was desire to win. (Author/TE)

The PRECEDE model (an acronym for predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling causes in education diagnosis and evaluation) emphasizes outcomes rather than inputs. The model was used in assessing the health needs of nationally ranked junior tennis players. The objective was to reduce stress illness in high-level competition. (JD)

Discusses the trend in academic debate on policy questions toward a wide acceptance of counterplans, encouraging combinations of proposals which appear at face value able to coexist but upon deeper analysis are incompatible. Argues in opposition to this trend by applying concepts from general systems theory to competition. (KEH)

Explores some of the arguments that are popularly lodged against the use of counterplans in modern academic debate. Suggests that most of this criticism is not persuasive due to fundamental problems with the implicit views of the debate process and the role of the judge in that process. (MS)

Discusses three causes of change in the labor market: (1) diffusion of new technology; (2) highly competitive global markets; (3) demographic shifts in the age and sex of the work force. (JOW)

A study of 97 spelling competition finalists in grades 4-8 and their parents found that the students used dictionaries, science-related texts, and word lists to prepare. The students were intrinsically motivated and had a repertoire of spelling strategies which they used singly or in concert to maximize likely spellings of words. (JDD)

Claims that Joe Nathan's article in the same "Educational Leadership" issue stresses positive school choice examples while ignoring the problems of replacing neighborhood schools with a system of unzoned, competitive enrollments. Raises concerns of equity, school improvement, parent involvement, teacher empowerment, school assessment, funding, and…

Basketball experts (N=28) responded to "rule- and norm-related behavior" questionnaire, assessing crisis relevance of behaviors which were against rules of situation and were either fair or unfair, called or not called by officials. Results revealed that officials' calls and fairness of violations substantially influenced diagnostic…

This rejoinder to K. K. Fung's critique of the authors' data-envelopment analysis (DEA) article argues that eliminating inefficiency by competition requires perfect information, not just freedom of entry and exit. DEA provides the necessary information, but is not intended as a mechanism to replace peer review. (MLH)

Discusses ethical issues that self-employed librarians must consider. Highlights include the lack of institutional support; the perceived value of the service; meeting client expectations and client dissatisfaction ethically; money and ethics, including how to charge for prior knowledge and experience; and client relationships, including working…

Increased pressure to "position" the institution, create an image, and "structure" potential students' first impression of the college has caused admissions professionals to participate less in the institution's central mission. Competition among colleges has also overstimulated the higher education market and created confusing pricing schemes,…

The global economy movement has four snares: the human resource taking precedence over the human being; a mindset of "the more skills, the better"; competitiveness that subjects people and labor to the imperatives of technology; and the dislocation caused by the emphasis on knowledge as the fundamental resource. (JOW)

"VICA Skills USA Championships" (Bamford) describes the competitions and events of the 1995 National Vocational Industrial Clubs of America Leadership and Skills Conference. "Student Robotics Contest" (Vandenberg) describes an annual competition that invites students to demonstrate their creativity and knowledge of robotics.…

Retired superintendents have the potential to be the best and the worst board members. Although some board members value a former superintendent's background and perspective, many think that retiring superintendents should go right out the door and not look back. Former teachers and superintendents serving on boards often have difficulty shifting…

Schools need not rule out fund raising, trips, and contests. Well-organized groups of music students washing cars at local gas stations can create more positive publicity and goodwill toward music programs than can hundreds of news releases. Exchange concerts, trips to nearby schools, and competition against a predetermined scale can substitute…