Data collected during the 1989-90 school year reveal that middle schools in Guam exist in name only, with one notable exception. F. B. Leon Guerrero Middle School has implemented an interdisciplinary team model boasting many of the salient features of true middle schools. Leon Guerrero teachers rated the extent their school provided for students'…

A recent issue of importance in the vast literature on well-being and age concerns the factorial invariance of the construct across age groups. Current wisdom suggests that while differences in loadings exist among age groups, the construction of summary measures introduces little bias. To investigate age and ethnic variation in the meaning of…

In 1980 and 1982, surveys were conducted at Pensacola Junior College (PJC) to gauge the perceptions of full-time, academic transfer faculty with respect to actual and preferred program emphases, and to determine their level of job satisfaction. Responses from 56% of the instructors surveyed in 1980 (N=81) and 55% in 1982 (N=74) revealed that over…

Even where collective bargaining is well established, teachers have almost no voice in educational decisionmaking. This is likely to remain a source of teacher frustration until the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers merge into a united organization that effectively represents teachers on a national level. (JG)

Describes rural schools as "educational ghettos" that suffer from itinerant staffs, poor administration, insufficient financing, and community apathy. Maintains that rural students are not being prepared for modern society. (DW)

Research indicates that a positive school climate is an important factor in school effectiveness. This paper reviews the major determinants of school climate and also reports the findings of a survey of 246 teachers and 76 principals in rural public schools in central Tennessee concerning three school climate factors: motivation and morale;…

For millions of students, two-year college education represents the last real opportunity to develop an interest in science, mathematics, or engineering and to develop the prerequisite skills for a career in these fields. Yet, two-year college students represent a largely untapped pool of scientific personnel. Two-year college science and…

Day care for children of working parents in the United States is labeled a "market failure" where supply and demand meet at a level that is substandard to almost all consumers. In this study of the issue of corporate child care, barriers to entry are discussed and a list is given of the range of service firms could consider. Among the barriers…

Adversarial collective bargaining often leads to lingering resentments. Collaborative bargaining, conversely, is a problem-solving approach to contract negotiations based on common interests and mutual respect. It is estimated that at least 500 school districts nationwide incorporate major elements of the collaborative approach in their collective…

Factors that contributed to the demoralization of junior faculty at a university with 214 teaching and professional staff were identified and change strategies were recommended. A consultant held interviews with 65 current and 8 former staff members. Themes that emerged from the interviews were used to develop suggestions for improving specific…

This monograph is a discussion of the nature of master teacher/career ladder programs and related issues and implications for principals. Delineated in the principal's role in career ladder/master teacher programs against the following framework of issues: (1) the clarity of the school board's plan and its resolve to implement the program; (2) the…

An insightful overview of what makes schools effective is presented. The report is based on a study of 272 schools that have been recognized by the Department of Education as exemplary, with particular focus given to the 60 private elementary schools within this group. Themes and characteristics that are frequently mentioned include strong…

A report is given of a 1987 survey of teachers in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). Data were obtained from 580 full-time classroom teachers in three elementary schools, two junior high schools, and one senior high school. The focus of the survey was on teacher attrition rates and turnover. Results indicated a high percentage of…

Plateauing is an individual's conviction that continued progress is impossible. This conviction occurs as a consequence of long periods of occupational stability. When practitioners doubt the probability of promotion or the importance of their work and find their work to be boring and redundant, they are exhibiting symptoms of plateauing rather…

In an effort to support the contention that the levels of student achievement and discipline depend more on administrative style and school ethos than on inner city location and/or social class, race, or IQ of students, an investigation was conducted of a single midwestern urban high school. The procedure consisted of observation and interviews of…