A safe environment is a prerequisite for productive learning. Using a unique panel data set of survey responses from New York City middle school students, the article provides insight into the relationship between feelings of safety in the classroom and academic achievement. The survey data include the reported feelings of safety for more than…

Discusses the use of regimentation and depersonalization as socializing mechanisms at an inner city junior high school. Focuses on the routine encounters of newcomers and the way such encounters force students to redefine themselves according to institutional needs and practices. (PS)

Discusses the importance of organization beliefs, values, and ideology to the internal environment of the organization. Applies the idea of culture development within the system to the workings of schools. Discusses how rites move from the individual to the organization and eventually affect the effectiveness of the organization. (JS)

Discusses various symptoms of burnout and argues that its main cause among teachers is the organizational pattern of public schools. Identifies teachers' noninvolvement in decision making, performance guidelines, routinization, and the division of labor as stress inducing administrative features that should be changed in order to reduce burnout.…

Describes the emergence of the Quality of Working Life (QWL) approach to work organization. Discusses the benefits that may be gained by implementing this approach in education, for example in the areas of labor management negotiations, stress management, and staff development. (GC)

Reviews effective schools research and asserts that achieving effectiveness by focusing narrowly on testing and curriculum objectives can have detrimental effects. Provides a listing of characteristics of schools that achieved grade-level success with low income students for several years. Intended as a practical guide for other schools wishing to…