Although the ultimate purpose of faculty evaluation should be improvement of instruction, it appears that most evaluation systems criticize or reject rather than attain better teaching performance. The evaluation instrument in the Department of Media Communication Science at Trenton State College has been lacking in certain evaluative criteria in…

Poor social skills of children with serious learning disabilities may be more limiting than their academic deficits. This paper reviews the social and behavioral issues related to social status, self-control, problem-solving behavior, student-teacher relationships, language and communication skills, individual temperament differences, and learning…

Discusses features of telefacsimile systems and why it was considered as a means of document delivery. A preliminary study is described which assessed telefacsimile equipment and suitable participating libraries for the experiment. (CLB)

Argues that the Supreme Court's decision--upholding the constitutionality of disciplinary actions taken against a public high school student who delivered a speech laden with sexual metaphor (though not obscene language) in a nominating assembly--was improper in that it attempted to articulate a false dichotomy between "political…

Path analysis examines an analytical model of decision making by lending officers of 211 Texas banks when recommending agricultural technology to farmer-clients. Model analyzes effects of loan officers' ascribed/achieved personal characteristics and perceptions of organizational constraints during three stages of decision process: using…

Board members should learn from two court decisions about the limits the First Amendment places on chain-of-command policies. Employees who have complaints about matters that affect the public may not be prohibited from bypassing the superintendent and coming directly to the school board. (MLF)

Recommended materials, assignment formats, and strategies for a course emphasizing development of functional proficiency in commercial French and focusing on three areas (context, practice, and verification) are outlined, including lectures, abstracting of readings, readings, long-term projects, and weekly projects. (MSE)

Teachers can be encouraged to share ideas which can result in the development of a cooperative curriculum. How one school helped teachers react positively to an interdisciplinary skills program is discussed. Charts outlining study, thinking, reading, and writing skills for a program involving social studies, English, and science are included. (RM)

Outlines national language policy for Australia, taking into account the culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse society, as well as role of English and uses of other languages in the community. Since English is the dominant language, all citizens and permanent residents have a right to learn it to level of proficiency that meets their…

Public Agenda was asked by the Nebraska State Board of Education and the Nebraska Department of Education (referred to hereafter as the State Board and the NDE) to help design and implement a public engagement process that would allow a cross-section of the state's citizens to comment on the central ideas contained in the document "Equitable…

This paper looks at the pressures under which academics in Australia are currently working, with special regard to small regional universities. Some time will be spent in explaining the situation and context of those working in the field of education at Northern Territory University as an example. In many respects small regional universities are…

In 1994, when the researchers conducted the research that lay the foundation for Equipped for the Future (EFF), adult learners told them that building and maintaining a strong family was a powerful motivator for their return to school. They wanted to set a good example for their children--to show them that getting an education was important. They…

Adapted from a speech to Japanese high school students in an English track program, this essay responds to the common question, "What is the best way to learn English?" First, it is noted that English can not be learned directly from dictionaries and grammar books, by empty repetition of words and phrases with passive attitude, with fear of making…

This guide describes a series of ways to translate research findings and general ideas on youth violence into day-to-day teaching and learning in homes and schools. Five sections include: (1) "Teaching and Learning Core Social Emotional Competencies" (e.g., what educators, counselors, and parents can do, and promoting core social and…

Universities and colleges accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education are facing the prospects of measuring dispositions related to teaching. Dispositions selected for teacher candidates at the University of West Alabama are characteristics desirable in N-12 candidates. This pilot study was designed to assess…