Reports the findings of three surveys that queried English teachers concerning their educational backgrounds, critical issues facing the profession, current teaching situations, teaching morale, and other educational issues. (HOD)

This two-page information review discusses the controversy over merit pay for teachers. The incidence and characteristics of merit pay programs are considered as well as the advantages and disadvantages of such programs. The question of whether merit pay is instrumental in improving teaching is raised. A list of 17 references is provided. (JD)

This two-page information review explores the controversy over the question of what beginning teachers must know to teach effectively and outlines a tentative definition of "essential knowledge" for first-year teachers. Eleven references are listed. (JD)

This second edition of "Beyond the Wasteland" provides an updated review of broadcast criticism. It offers teachers information to sharpen their own critical capacities and help for exploring media criticism with their students. It also provides suggestions and contextual insights for the mass media researcher. The book is divided into…

This two-page information review draws similarities between the work of teachers and executives, cites some of the research analyzing the role of teachers as decision makers, and argues the importance of teachers developing, in their minds and in the mind of the public, an image of teachers as executives. Nineteen references are listed. (JD)

As school reform efforts demand that schools become places of excellence for all students, educators committed to these reforms face enormous challenges, not the least of which is the education of teachers. Although the responsibility for improved schooling must be shared among administrators, teachers, parents, and students, school reform efforts…

This brief report summarizes a monograph of the same title. Evidence of increasing interest in high school-college partnerships is presented. Among the reasons cited for renewed interest are: changing student population, students' frequent lack of skills preparedness, and the awareness of a need for new models of inservice staff development for…

The difficulties, mutual interests, and development of successful collaboration between high schools and colleges in achieving better access to and preparedness for higher education of the nation's high school graduates are addressed. It is noted that an increasing awareness of the changing student population, democratization of higher education…

The results of the annual survey of state teacher testing programs in 1990 are summarized. State directors of teacher testing programs were contacted in the summer of 1990 and asked to update the data compiled in 1989 by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation. The results show that 46 states required teacher testing in 1990.…

Teacher leaders often teach full- or part-time while assuming leadership responsibilities. Also, they have often learned new roles just by doing the tasks demanded by those roles. A more systematic approach to helping teachers develop the requisite skills for assuming leadership roles (e.g. department chairs, team and grade leaders, and curriculum…

Academic alliances, local cooperative groups of teachers of languages and literatures at all levels, meet regularly to discuss current developments in language teaching, explore particular problems and find solutions to them, and help faculty take responsibility for their intellectual and professional lives. Membership can range from 20 to 100…

This review and synthesis of dissertations and other research literature published between 1987 and 1993 focuses on K-12 and teacher education in technology education. It begins with an overview of the research base. The review examines the status of and curriculum development in secondary technology education and technology teacher education,…

This digest explains basic elements of standardized tests in order to help teachers in making students feel comfortable about taking such tests. Usually created by commercial publishers, standardized tests are designed to provide a common measure of students' performance. They help compare an individual student's performance with the performance…

Written for teachers who want introductions to conducting school assessments and to studying features of writing, this book is intended (1) to provide ways for teachers to analyze writing samples and the writing process for school or program assessment, and (2) to promote the development of teacher research among kindergarten through grade 12…

In most schools, especially urban high schools, teachers are colleagues in name only. Some schools, however, do foster substantial collegial relationships among teachers; and when schools are organized to support such teacher collaboration, the benefits are substantial. To make teacher collaboration possible and effective, two fundamental…