Education is a fundamentally moral enterprise. Educational administration must change to reflect ethics at its core. Traditional educational administration is informed by constructs of power and leadership and has developed knowledge bases on modest theoretical grounds. Together these elements dominate discourse and inhibit the dialog necessary…

Kindergarten programs in public schools generally have an academic/ formal orientation or an intellectual/experiential orientation. This article highlights the fundamental differences between the two approaches by examining current curriculum, policy and staffing, and administrative practice regarding kindergarten. (IAH)

For beginning principals, delegation is an important skill and an effective way to learn about staff members. After defining the school's strengths and weaknesses, a principal can set concise, realistic goals and communicate them to the school community. A general blueprint for action (including communication, assessment, planning, and…

This paper explores the nature of the contribution that can be made to administrative theory by recent developments in the philosophy of science and the emerging new views of science: notably, the arguments of Richard Bates and Thomas Greenfield. These emerging views of science can sustain a science of administration that escapes their major…

This article discusses characteristics of creative people (problem sensitivity, idea fluency, originality, and flexibility); the importance of managers appreciating the work styles of creative people; and seven characteristics of an organizational climate that encourages creativity. (DB)

Institutional research as a tool for supporting management decision making has a relatively short history in the United States and is much less prevalent in the United Kingdom, especially in colleges. This paper outlines the principal roles and functions of an institutional research office, discusses staffing issues, and suggests practical roles…

Despite his legendary exploits, Odysseus' approach to leadership would render today's educational leaders ineffectual. Successful school administrators nurture their team's good ideas, monitor the environment, stay flexible and alert, study history, and remain responsible. Advocates of site-based management must also beware competing priorities,…

Deming's 14 principles, which have revitalized Japanese industry, can help restructure the education workplace. Administrators should agree on future goals and priorities; adopt a cooperative, "lead management" philosophy; cease dependency on mass inspection; constantly improve production and service; institute training and retraining;…

School performance is as closely tied to competent administration, effective supervision, and dynamic management as it is to aggressive leadership. Transformational leadership arises when leaders are more concerned about gaining staff cooperation and energetic participation than accomplishing particular tasks. (MLH)

Presents advice to young innovators from the founder of Ethernet technology. (WRM)

Studies characteristics of hybrid speech/theater departments that describe themselves as highly cooperative and collegial. Presents perceived advantages and disadvantages of having a combined speech/theater department and results of questions pertaining to administrative difficulties in combined departments. Discusses alternative theories about…

Conceives of educational planning as a circular process: the demand for education evolves as a function of a changing supply in educational institutions and programs. Argues that by taking into consideration the complexity of the educational environment, policy-making in education can be improved. (DSK)

Sets forth and elaborates on three ways in which an external review can always help an English department. Suggests three principles a chair might keep in mind in trying to fulfill departmental goals by means of an outside review. Examines how a chair and his or her department may facilitate an outside review. (TB)

Notes the inevitable tensions between the interests of teachers and administrators on the one hand and individual constitutional rights of students on the other. Uses an incident at a Florida high school to discuss 4 basic premises explaining why school administrators must adopt a "preferred position" in support of student…

Suggests that higher education administrators can learn from the emerging practices of electronic commerce. Adapting a model laid out by Patricia Seybold with Ronni Marshak in "Customers.com," provides administrative guidelines for online education programs that combine sound business practice with information technology to make it easy for…