This article provides commentary on the role of education in recent provincial elections across the country, from the perspective of four provincial school board associations.

New teachers require specific and targeted support, as witnessed by alarming rates of attrition in their first years in the profession. Research shows they often struggle to bridge the gap between their university study and effective practice, especially with issues such as assessment, classroom management and diversity. New teachers should have…

The governance role of school boards is not new. Local school boards have governed education in Canada since the 19th century. However, significant forces are impacting on school boards and how they enact their roles and responsibilities. In this article, the authors want to look at the growing pressures on school boards, to actively acknowledge…

Margie Trovao has taught at Lord Nelson Elementary School in east Vancouver for the past 15 years, but this fall she is also a student in her own classroom. Under an initiative by the Vancouver School Board, Ms. Trovao is being mentored by a tech-savvy teacher, Zhi Su, from another school on how to use iPads and other devices in her split Grade…

Presents a model that administrators can use to control the teaching-learning process. Definitions are provided for the model's six elements: budgeting, reports, policies, organizational structures, professionalism, and staff selection and training. Notes that involvement of teachers and students in the control process minimizes communication…

Analyzes interviews with 31 school board chairpersons across Canada on the subject of effective school board operations. Summarizes and quotes responses to questions about leadership styles and roles, conflict resolution among board members, informal communication networks, policy development, organizational structure, school board size, and…

A telephone survey of school superintendents in Newfoundland (Labrador) found that 13 of 14 school districts had adopted sexual harassment policies. However, none of the policies contained all elements required to constitute a comprehensive policy; few procedures existed for informing new or current personnel of sexual harassment policies; and…

The article explores data from the 1979 Canadian survey of public participation in education, focusing on public confidence in education, membership in school board advisory groups, public influence in running schools, school board efforts to inform the public, and public opinion of today's schools compared to those of their day. (SB)

Describes the organization, content, and outcomes of a program to train Inuit leaders to be effective school board members for the Baffin Divisional Board of Education when the Inuit first assumed control of that region's schools. Topics include school board role and formulation of educational goals and policies. (JHZ)

Changes to legislation dealing with elections for school boards in Alberta have created a situation where it is conceivable that the membership on separate school boards that were established by Catholic or Protestant minorities could be made up partly or totally of electors who are neither Catholic nor Protestant. (JHZ)

School board decisions should reflect the needs of the public. Questionnaires, home visits and discussions help to achieve these ends. (AF)

Reviews "cutback management" and "crisis management" literature and suggests four approaches for school trustees: recognize the problem for what it is; recognize your particular dilemma; don't stall, set priorities; and do it in a way that will elicit cooperation, not competing advocacies. (BRR)