The theory and practice of supervision developed during a period in which the legitimization of any enterprise was most effectively sought through appeals to science and scientific methods for problem-solving. The failure of scientific discipline to develop conclusively effective theories in many social fields, including supervision, suggests that…

To what extent can school principals provide effective educational leadership? Research shows that, contrary to textbook images, principals react to their circumstances instead of controlling them and that they spend most of their time on administrative, not instructional, matters. Further entrenching principals in their administrative role is the…

Clinical supervision should not be construed as "delivery of services" to targeted audiences of teachers deemed inexperienced, inefficient, or incompetent. Supervision should instead empower and emancipate teachers by creating conditions under which they can examine classroom actions in terms of the historical, social, and cultural…

Needed is a shift from more traditional, technical, scientific, management-based teacher supervision to methods that allow teachers to gain a greater understanding of the teaching process per se, such as clinical supervision. However, greater attention needs to be given to the philosophy and rationale of clinical supervision. (Author/DCS)

The principal has a duty to assess the worth (make a summative evaluation) of the various parts of the organization, including teachers, and the further responsibility for making provision for the formative evaluation of the teaching staff with a view to assisting them in their personal and professional growth. (Author)

In Australia, outside inspectors no longer assess teachers for promotion and advancement, but public concern has stirred interest in new forms of teacher evaluation. More teachers now accept the desirability of being observed by fellow teachers. (Author/JM)