Describes one beginning teacher's experience with a bad, nonsupportive principal. Teachers formed a support group to determine how to handle the principal. Their most successful tactic was to substitute positive, self-supportive thoughts for negative ones. The teacher worked to regain her self-confidence and to communicate with the principal. The…

First of a two-part report on violence prevention in middle schools describes ways teachers and administrators can be proactive in preventing violence, offering classroom control tips, violence-prevention curriculum strategies, and resources for designing safer schools. The article discusses changing the way adolescents think and building…

A middle school reform initiative, sponsored by the Program for Disadvantaged Youth of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation 4 years ago, has taken hold in 12 urban middle schools nationwide. The article discusses that reform, noting the lessons about change to accommodate student diversity that urban middle schools can teach. (SM)