A proposal is offered for restructuring the elementary school into two divisions. At the primary level (K-3) the focus would be on acquiring basic skills, while at the upper level (4-6) these skills would be applied to literature, social studies, mathematics, and science. (TE)

Many talented beginning teachers leave the profession in the first 2 years. The author explores the reasons and presents a plan for principals to follow to help retain beginning teachers. (MD)

Addresses the need of school districts in many states to decide on an appropriate mingling of centralization and decentralization in the operation of activity funds. Argues for analysis of activity fund operation through a breakdown into such major components as policy, the accounting system, and reporting and auditing. (JBM)

The author of "A Study of Schooling," following up an article in the March "Phi Delta Kappan," notes the noncorrelation of school satisfaction with teaching methods or curriculum; discusses educational goals; examines schools' concentration on noneducational factors; and recommends changes in goal-setting, school-level…

Faced with declining enrollments and poor morale, U.S. higher education must address the fundamental issue of how a modern society organizes to develop its people. A new human learning system requires citizen awareness of self-development needs, a sense of the individual's place in society, and interinstitutional cooperation. Examples are…

It has been assumed that colonial schooling systems were always poor quality reproductions of the educational system in the colonizing (metropolitan) power. This paper compares the structures and curricula of colonial and metropolitan schools, finding not a reproduction, but a hierarchy, with the metropolitan school on top. (SJL)

Poway City USD has designed a middle school program to facilitate transition from the elementary grades. Several classroom organizations are available to entering sixth-graders: self-contained, multiage, and team teaching. Most are in the self-contained Basic Education program, moving into departmentalized teaching in grades 7 and 8. (SJL)

This article states that the understanding of the process of making school-closing decisions involves the consideration of both efficiency and political factors. (Author/EB)

In a study to determine the relationship between teacher effectiveness and variables related to the organization and value patterns of different schools, teacher interns rated by principals as high or low could be distinguished on the basis of their instructional decision making within the different school contexts. (JMD)

The impact of the government-ordered reorganization of colleges of education in England and Wales since 1972 is examined in terms of the characteristics of students and the courses they were studying between 1972 and 1976. (JMF)

A study of Jerusalem schools used three statistical procedures to assess teachers' perceived policy alignment among three organizational levels (teachers, schools, and the Israel Ministry of Education). Results show close connections between teachers' own policies and those they impute to schools but not those imputed to the IMOE. Findings support…

Questions what attributes and approaches are most effective and essential for a primary school to achieve their mission. Identifies three attributes: (1) success (defined here as establishing the primary mission as the successful development of the child); (2) wonder (referring to techniques that inspire this response); and (3) confidence. (MJP)

The former director of the Central Park East projects believes children's schooling should be geared toward citizenship and "generalist" vocational interests, not college admission requirements. Kindergarten encourages openness and empathy, but effects dissipate with each passing year. Educators must focus on the habits, skills, and…

An in-depth analysis of data on two restructured schools assessed the impact of school organization on programs that provide social, health, and career development services for at-risk students. The analysis illustrates that unless the services become an integrated part of a community of concerned adults, their potential is lessened. (SLD)

Describes the interactions among deaf and hearing students at the Kinzie School, Chicago (Illinois), an innovative elementary school where deaf and hearing students learn in inclusive classrooms with shared activities. The program evolved from two schools sharing one building to an integrated program that continues to acknowledge deaf culture.…