Teachers in China are regarded as vulnerable to sociopolitical changes. This paper, however, focuses on the resilience and innovativeness of state-selected expert teachers--the recipients of the Special Rank Teacher (SRT) award. This award was the product of a transitional period in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution, and was an act of…

As anyone who has ever defended a thesis or been on a tenure track must know, American institutions of higher education have rigorous and finely calibrated ways of according respect to those who work in them. What they do not have enough of is respect from those beyond their gates. The author argues that the system that created the two-tiered…

In the current political context, researchers have, as Ivor Goodson (1992) earlier argued, a special obligation: "to assure that "the teachers' voice" is heard, heard loudly, heard articulately." But not just any "voice" will do--teacher troubles need to be tightly linked to issues, biography to history. On every front, directly and indirectly,…

This article describes when teachers in Detroit, Michigan and Gary, Indiana went on strike in September 2006, which have resulted in the closure or relocation of 35 schools to other campuses since the end of the 2004-05 school year. The 2006-07 school year has brought with it a fresh wave of labor unrest, as teachers in districts large and small…

This document contains informational materials about the breakdown in merger talks between the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA). Included in the packet are (a) the AFT statement on the breakup of unity talks; (b) transcripts of two news conferences by David Selden, president of the AFT, on the…

Teachers are beginning to collectively voice their complaints about the stresses they face in school. While talking about the problems of low morale and poor school climate won't solve these problems, the public is being alerted that teachers need help, not further criticism. (SJL)

It is important for teachers to understand both their eye care needs and the services offered in the eye care market in order to make intelligent decisions regarding their own needs. (LH)

Explains that teachers must care for themselves in order to be able to care for their students, defining balance and centering and describing how to begin (write down five personal and five professional goals and examine such issues as whether it is necessary to change one's daily schedule or to change one's physical environment to carry out the…

In the 1990s at Appalachian State University, as at many other colleges and universities, the balance shifted in the writing program. Before then, English composition courses had been taught by tenure-track faculty members, but now most composition courses are taught by non-tenure-track faculty members. In this article, the authors describe how…

This National Education Association news release looks at the financial problems of teachers, and urges application for food stamps as a means of combating rising prices and highlighting the economic plight of teachers. A number of stories are included in which teachers found it necessary to obtain food stamps in order to make ends meet. The…

A teacher describes the four-year bureaucratic maze she went through to rectify a problem with the lack of proper toilet paper dispensers in the women teachers' bathroom of a brand new school. (MD)

Albert Blum discusses the need for "fallowships" for educators. These would allow educators to lie "fallow" for a year and not read, talk, or think about anything in their field. (MD)

Considers the impact of alcohol abuse-related problems among faculty and staff on the quality of teaching and student learning. Argues that institutional leaders have a responsibility to direct attention to identifying the degree to which the alcohol problem exists and what steps should be taken for the benefit of all. (DMM)

Analyzes the post-Soviet academic profession, focusing on the challenges it has to meet. Discusses the system of academic appointments and promotion, remuneration, motivation, evaluation of faculty, and academic freedom. (EV)

Analyzes the current status of the academic profession in Bulgaria at a time of difficult socioeconomic transition. After providing a brief overview of the historical development of Bulgarian academia, discusses faculty working conditions, the career path within the profession, and the legal framework for the professoriate. Highlights future key…