Ethnography is increasingly appealing to those who want to study their own literate society and their own discourse communities. As sensitivity to the role of context in the social construction of knowledge increases, ethnography is viewed as a particularly relevant approach for research in schools and classrooms. The participant observer, who is both a member of the group and, simultaneously, its researcher, is considered the most important instrument in ethnography. The ethnographer's integrity is the most important researcher trait. As an insider, the teacher/ethnographer sees, hears, and learns more about the community than an outsider would. But, ironically, being an insider may impose constraints on the ethnographer that jeopardize the integrity of the final document. There is no room to equivocate. In order for the teacher/ethnographer to stay in control of the final written product, it may not always be wise to remain at the school. Staying on may present a difficult choice: to face unpleasant repercussions from alienated colleagues and administrators or to write a document that falls short of presenting an honest portrait made up of the study's findings. (RAE)