Growing public concern with student discipline, increases in student suicide rates, homicides, and high pregnancy rates of teenage girls are causing educators to give renewed attention to the concept of "character development" in public education. (MD)

Based on the premise that the principal's role is crucial in the quality of a school, the author provides 10 specifications for working to improve the quality of principals. (MD)

Two experienced women educators turned an elementary school's declining enrollment problem into a pioneering leadership opportunity when they proposed sharing the principalship. The part-time principals gained time to pursue advanced degrees, professional concerns, and family interests. The school gained an economical, high-energy team committed…

Describes a program called the Character Education Curriculum developed by the American Institute for Character Education that is the most widely used plan for teaching the basic traits of character, conduct, and citizenship. (MD)

Discusses the importance of the principal's role in preparing for the changes that are taking place in adapting education's role to a technological future. (MD)

Outlines five lessons learned at Roosevelt-Perry Elementary School (Kentucky) when the computer education program, Humana Computer Tutor project, was implemented. The principal was important to the success of the program. (MD)

Young children think and learn differently, yet early childhood education is now subject to new pressures. Many believe that early exposure to technology accelerates mental development and improves sensory and mental capacity. There is no factual support for this idea. Children who grow up with technology are not necessarily more proficient with…

Describes a method for making standardized test results more useful for teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents by providing information on the test content actually mastered by the student and on the student's individual development over time, as well as providing traditional numerical and norm-referenced scores. (PGD)

Outlines the principal areas in which computers have the potential for improving learning. These include: math remediation, vocabulary and language arts, enriching learning opportunities, helping the handicapped, and computer literacy. Includes discussion of areas to consider when planning basic computer programs. (MD)

Reviews breakthrough studies in the development of higher mental processes. These studies include: (1) influences on talent development; (2) the relative effects of tutoring, mastery learning, and conventional group instruction on student achievement; (3) the importance of cognitive prerequisites; (4) textbook organization; and (5) methods of…

Reviews the concept of principal centers, which help principals in their professional growth. Includes the results from a study of the organization and operation of 34 principal centers throughout the United States. (MD)

Describes a 1982 program at Sarasota County School System (Florida) that trained teachers as student advisors when five junior high schools became middle schools. Explains measures to overcome teacher resistance to advisement sessions, the benefits of developing teacher-trainers, and resultant gains in teachers' self-confidence. (MLH)

Describes one previously "computer illiterate" teacher's experiences in taking a beginning course in computer programming and notes the teacher's resulting sense of achievement, growth in self-confidence, and ability to use the computer to tailor educational computer programs to individual student needs. (PGD)

The place of kindergarteners in academia has grown more important in recent years. Increased emphasis on learning at the kindergarten level, however, should not blind educators to the developmental levels of four- and five-year-olds, who may learn most effectively by playing creatively and exploring new language skills. (PGD)

If teachers are to use computers in the classroom or train students to use computers, they must first be trained themselves. This training should provide knowledge of educational computer applications, computer terms and operations, courseware evaluation techniques, and elementary programing skills. An ongoing staff development program should also…