Proposes that (1) during most of the nineteenth century leadership in public education primarily took the form of guiding a decentralized social movement; and (2) at the turn of the twentieth century much of the direction of the educational system devolved upon university experts and professional managers. (Author/DB)

This article looks at the educational implications of the declining birth rate in England and Wales. It outlines the major issues which arise (school reorganizations, pupil/teacher ratios, teacher redeployment, and grade organization), considers the factors affecting these issues, and examines the sources of decision-making power on each. (SJL)

The author describes aspects of the size and organizational structure of high schools which reduce human contact and have a negative influence on the sense of community, the development of relationships, and the formation of personal identity. (Author/SJL)

The fundamental causes of poor academic performance are not the schools themselves but the institutions governing them. Bureaucracy imposed by democratic principles vitiates the most basic requirements of effective organization. State governments must create a new public education system based on the market principles of parental choice and school…

Major programatic reforms or significant changes in roles and relationships within the educational system are unlikely to emerge given the lack of attention to the actors, process of implementation, and underlying values of the reform movement. The article's focus is state-level reform initiatives. (IAH)

Organizing time into equal periods and moving at intervals from task to task is inefficient, yet most schools use this rigid scheduling method. Better ways of operating include the following: (1) teach required and elective subjects together; (2) devise double period seminars; and (3) combine back to back scheduling with team teaching. (VM)

Education aims to enhance mental and moral growth and to prepare youngsters to improve the environment and quality of life for themselves and future generations. Whereas traditional educational practice separates basic learning functions into independently organized instructional units, tomorrow's school curricula must concentrate on the global…

This article examines the unique organizational structure of middle schools and the historical context leading to their development. A true middle school is described as providing personalized curricula for the learning needs of diverse learners through use of problem-oriented interdisciplinary teams and flexible grouping practices. (JDD)

Trends in higher education in the United Kingdom are analyzed in the context of organizational changes that will abolish the policy distinguishing polytechnic institutions and universities. The article examines historic concerns with the relationship of higher education to needs of the economy, and changes that suggest increased emphasis on…

Examines two variables affecting multicultural schools: teachers' attitudes and professional knowledge about students' languages and cultures; and the linguistic/cultural diversity of the children. Compares bilingual schooling and school organization for second-language teaching in multicultural contexts. Describes successful practices, including…

Argues that the technological revolution has changed occupational skills and employers' needs, forcing community colleges to do more with the same or less money. Calls for the reengineering of education to move from the current dependency on entitlements and legislative protection to a market-driven, cost-justified system. (MAB)

University of Washington educator discusses school reform, and offers reasons why school change will not be as fundamental as many think. Asserts that education occurs within the schools' primary function of day care. Discusses how teachers' roles have changed in the last 20 years and what those roles should be. Discusses universities' role in…

Few great ideas to guide school practice are totally new. Conscientious educators have hit some good chords over the years; the challenge is recapturing that music and building a (pedagogical) symphony around it. Philosophical ideas about teachers' views of children, curriculum, teachers, and organizational structures are discussed. (MLH)

This document presents the Educational Excellence Network's third annual report card on the progress of education reform in the United States. Despite much activity, the report assigns reform efforts for 1995-96 the overall grade of C, which is the same grade given for the previous year. Part 1 presents data on academic achievement in American…

School-effectiveness and school-improvement researchers are increasingly looking to establish some kind of synergy between their respective fields; however, current attempts lack a clear understanding of organizations. School-effectiveness research tends to emphasize structural dimensions, while the focus in school-improvement work is on…