A staff development program was designed to train rural Utah teachers in effective strategies for serving gifted and talented students. Teams of facilitators from universities and district offices traveled to rural sites to deliver 3 10-hour teacher workshops. Teachers indicated that the training was beneficial and reported positive results from…

Examines survey responses from 218 U.S. and Canadian sociology departments on the nature of teacher training for graduate students. Reveals that teacher training is consistently subordinated to research skills instruction. Posits a concurring devaluation of teaching among sociologists. Includes survey instrument, schools queried, and statistical…

A study investigated the relationship between job-related stress (reward satisfaction, institutional/departmental reputation, time commitment, departmental/institutional influence, student interaction) and intent to leave academia among 3,070 full-time tenure-track faculty nationwide. Interest in discipline, sense of community, academic…

This chapter examines aspects of the life of the chair after the person returns to full-time service as a faculty member. (Contains 2 tables.)

Teacher quality, however defined, is usually seen as the responsibility of schools of education. Rarely is it viewed as the responsibility of academic departments in the arts and sciences--that part of college or university where prospective teachers study the academic content they will draw on as teachers. Only recently has teacher quality come…

This study used a Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) approach to investigate relationships between student motivation, higher-order thinking skills, quality of teaching and learning, teacher student relations, student satisfaction with course contribution to their learning, and active learning strategies, with a sample of 2,190 undergraduate…

Research indicates that little is understood about the impact of what has been called "the second half of life" on administrators in higher education, such as deans and department chairs. This study addresses this lack of knowledge by reviewing research on the second half of life phenomena, especially its possible impact on university/college…

In this author's research, the question of whether it makes sense to think of writing primarily as a generic skill acquired increasing urgency as she gathered qualitative data for a study of the relationship between instructors' expectations in the design of writing assignments and the students' thinking as evidenced both in their essay responses…

Examines the emergence and early implementation stages of Queensland (Australia) Education Department's policy for devolving responsibility to state schools. Clarifies the department's rhetoric in developing and promoting its decentralization policy; examines policy efficacy at the "school face" level; explores possible policy outcomes,…

The Hawaii State Department of Education offers a growing number of Hawaiian language immersion schools for its students. The article presents the history of immersion schools in Hawaii, examining criticisms of immersion schools, discussing their benefits, and explaining necessary components for success. (SM)

A study investigated differences in the length of time taken to earn a doctoral degree in three disciplines--chemistry, English, and psychology. The clearest findings emerged for psychology, where institutional variables affecting time to degree concerned faculty accessibility and department size. (Author/MSE)

Traces the three-year period (beginning in 1988) leading to the takeover of the Jersey City (New Jersey) public schools by the State Department of Education. Questions the wisdom of New Jersey's approach regarding failing school districts. The confrontation in New Jersey ended poorly for both the state and district. (SLD)

A study examined the socialization experiences of 25 majority and 37 minority women doctoral students using 4 indices of social opportunity: recruitment of student by department; participation in apprenticeship and mentoring experiences; perceptions of department as either competitive or cooperative and offering support networks; and experience of…

Surveys levels of political tolerance among 152 U.S. government teachers and 96 social studies coordinators in Texas. Investigates attitudes toward various groups (e.g., neo-Nazis), and whether respondents felt that even disliked groups should be accorded their civil liberties. Concludes majority of these educators practiced what they taught.…

Studied the effects of interdisciplinary teaming versus departmentalization on student achievement in middle schools. Found no significant differences for reading, math, science, and social studies achievement. Results suggest that team teaching merits further investigation as a potential strategy for mediating the student achievement loss…