Drawing on data from a major Spencer Foundation study, this article focuses on the effects of major restructuring initiatives in New York State on a gifted and utterly committed teacher. It challenges the now ubiquitous assumption that "the reformer knows best" and reveals the gradual demise of an immensely gifted, dedicated teacher--a…

The purpose of this study was to estimate the validity of the Competence subscale of the Teacher Staff Development Survey (TSDS) as a measure of the teacher efficiency construct. Results from regular education elementary school teachers (N=296) revealed a subscale structure of the TSDS that differed from the subscale structure originally designed…

This paper reports on a proposed project to be undertaken to improve the morale, image, and service of the Bursar's Office at Nova Southeastern University. The project calls for: (1) a brainstorming meeting of the bursar's office staff; (2) bursar's office staff to offer suggestions to improve services; (3) the encouragement of teamwork and…

This paper describes a study of teachers in an elementary school, how they constructed and viewed their understandings of social and professional organization, how these understandings were modified as the central values of the organization, and how its social and political context underwent significant changes. The report focuses on the values…

A study was done of faculty job satisfaction and mobility at Michigan State University (MSU) by surveying all full-time faculty and specialists there. A multiple-item survey was sent to each participant during February and March 1991. Responses totaled 1,014, a 51 percent response rate. Most respondents had tenure, were hired between 1967 and…

This report discusses findings of a study of two issues during the 1989-90 academic year at the United States Naval Academy: the removal of the Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department, and the Superintendent's decision to give a final electrical engineering examination that might have been compromised. The study reviewed the effect of…

Much of the literature on widowhood has focused on coping and adjustment following the death of a spouse; only recently have social/psychological relationships among the widowed become the subject of investigation. To examine the activity patterns and well-being of elderly widows living in a Florida retirement community, 48 widows were contrasted…

If school administrators do not have a genuine commitment to education that is backed up by funds for staff development, they should steer away from open plan schools. (Author/MLF)

A review of literature on class size is the purpose of this report. Included are a summary of four meta analyses (Robinson and Wittebols 1986), (Cone 1978), and (Glass and Smith 1978 and 1979); a discussion of research methodologies; recommendations for policy makers; and alternative strategies for class size reduction. Appendices present…

The study represents a decade of research on Texas teachers' morale and moonlighting habits. It has been repeated biannually since 1980. The average Texas teacher is a 43 year-old female, making $26,161 salary, married with a working spouse, has a bachelor's degree, is not the major breadwinner, teaches in a suburban district, has 15.4 years of…

In May 1982, students at Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan, were asked to assess the instructional program, student activities, counseling services, morale, and administration at the school. Conducted as part of the High School Improvement Project involving eight Detroit high schools, the survey was designed to collect information…

Previous research has found that outside events seem to have little effect on happiness. Three studies in New Zealand were conducted to identify mental processes that give circumstances their favorable and unfavorable meanings. The first study examined the gap between aspiration and achievement in terms of income, education, physical fitness,…

Research indicates that the relationship between class size and instructional effectiveness depends on a multitude of related variables, such as age level of students, subject matter taught, and instructional methods used. Recent statistical syntheses of this research reveal that the instructional benefits of smaller classes are most significant…

This study provides a closer perspective and appreciation of what elderly people think and feel about aging and the aged. Contained herein is a summary of the recorded written responses of 200 consecutive statements received from male and female persons 65 years old and over, in response to several broad questions regarding aging and the aged. The…

After defining morale and satisfaction and briefly examining writings on school superintendent job satisfaction and morale, the author describes the School Superintendent Morale Measure (SSMM), an objective measure of superintendent morale and satisfaction. From an initial 148 items and 14 factors included on the basis of presumed ability to…