Studies and identifies characteristics and attitudes most desired by employers. Provides a rationale for educators to take an aggressive role in adding employability skills instruction to their school's curriculum. Includes four brief sample employability skills activities. (HB)

Examines the essential characteristics of teachers of young children: good physical health, kindness, courage, integrity, self-awareness, a theoretical framework in which to see children, the equivalent of a college graduate's general knowledge, warm respect for and courtesy to children, trust in children, discretion, intuition, professional…

The purpose of this article is to examine "Ways of Knowing through the Realms of Meaning" by Dr. William Allan Kritsonis as a framework that innovative and progressive leaders in education can use to implement and utilize the absolute best practices regarding Human Resources in an educational organization. Dr Kritsonis's "Ways of Knowing through…

This account considers the need for qualified teachers and headteachers in Children's Centres in England. It describes the ongoing decline in the importance of nursery education, and the concurrent expansion of childcare. The author argues that the best response to increasingly formal approaches in the early years is to maintain the role of the…

This issue of CPRE Policy Briefs summarizes the findings on issues related to teacher quality in the chapter by the author in the book, "The State of Education Policy Research" (Cohen, Fuhrman, Mosher, Eds., 2007). This report also draws on discussions that took place during a summer, 2006, policy briefing on teacher labor-market issues…

A participant in forensic tournament competition presents her perspective as well as overall student reaction to the function of "warm bodies," competitors who are entered in a tournament by the coach or tournament director only to meet qualifying requirements. Overall, participants in an informal survey believed that the warm body…

This chapter considers the need for professional certification of instructional developers and describes the work of various organizations in this area. The differences between certification, accreditation, and licensure are examined, and the certification efforts of the Division of Instructional Development (DID) of the Association for…

This paper, one in a series of four describing a boy-oriented program for elementary school children, addresses the problem of staffing an elementary school with teachers who will be able to effectively teach boys as well as girls. It suggests that empathy toward both boys and girls, personal warmth and security in the classroom, a high degree of…

Suggesting that the university faculty members assigned extra-curricular duties with forensics have been denied proper evaluation procedures, this paper argues for the need to apply professional evaluation standards to forensics directors. It proposes four separate components to be considered in developing such standards: (1) professional…

Discusses aptitude tests that volunteers take to match their skills, interests, and aptitudes with skills needed in specific military occupations. Describes the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) and what happens to ASVAB results. (CT)

The print and electronic media approach the reporting of educational issues with negative simplicity depicting those in charge as unethical, incompetent, and engaged in some form of coverup. Examples of biased headlines followed by the real issues are given. (Author/MT)

Promotes the use of basic skills testing in the certification of new teachers and the recertification of veteran teachers. Presents the belief that better teaching will result from mandated teacher testing. (MD)

Summarizes the Carnegie Foundation president's September 1987 speech concerning this generations's most urgent task--rebuilding the nation's schools. Warns that today's teachers may have gained in competency and responsibility, but not in empowerment to shape curricula, plan inservice programs, or shape student retention and special education…

Questions the perceived purposes of moral education in the primary school and how it may be structured to enhance its effectiveness. States that when implementing classroom moral education, teachers took an overwhelmingly intellectual approach to the task when a practical approach would have better served the students. (Author/GEA)

Sixteen suggestions to manage teacher shortages are offered. Also discussed are the meeting of minimum standards, the need for planning and data collection, and the desirability of a comprehensive, humane approach to managing teacher supply and demand. (MT)