Power, or influence, in educational governance is increasingly becoming diffused. Everyone in education now feels relatively powerless. A political model of decision-making, emphasizing consultation with representatives of interest groups is now appropriate. In this model, the school board functions as "meta-mediator." This modifies the…

The Institute for Responsive Education and its study team are looking at ways to widen the scope of collective bargaining to provide room for communities to participate in policy formulation in their schools. The traditional management-labor approach was designed to resolve differences about wages, fringe benefits, and the rules, rights, and…

This paper on the pre-college teaching of geography documents the teaching of geography in the United States from 1800 to the present and projects it into the future. Analyses of how views on physical, regional, and human geography have affected the elementary and secondary curricula and a history of the incorporation of geography into the social…

This monograph contains papers that study and assess the societal and political influences that could affect the work of the educational administrator during the next decade. Authored by conference speakers, panel members, and reactors, the papers cover such subjects as (1) the implications of social change for the administrator, (2) the politics…

This project presents a developmental study of alternative models for the organization of large school districts. Its objectives are: (1) to conceptualize, describe, and develop alternative administrative structures for large urban school systems; (2) to conceptualize and describe staffing policies for the different models; and, (3) to…

This symposium on conflict management and decision making is comprised of three papers. "Two Approaches to Conflict Management in Teams: A Case Study" (Mychal Coleman, Gary N. McLean) describes a study that provided conflict management training to two employee teams using the traditional lecture method and cooperative learning (CL).…

This document is designed to help facilitators with the formation and development of effective teams of people who have no previous history as a team and no training in group processes. Part 1 provides a narrative explanation of the stages of group development (investing in membership, forming attachments to subgroups, confronting/debating issues,…

Presents a two-day lesson from the Alberta (Canada) Education Curriculum for upper elementary or middle school students designed to explore ethical decisions when confronted with value conflicts. Outlines goals, materials, and procedures. Indicates instructional objectives are analysis of conflicts in terms of moral and ethical values; and…

This curriculum guide for grades 4 through 9 uses the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to teach conflict resolution and to explore the philosophy of non-violence for daily life. To enable students to learn and apply non-violence, it must be modeled in a classroom environment that builds trust and a sense of community. Each of the…

This digest summarizes the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (IDEA 97) with emphasis on changes in the new law. First, it highlights principal changes in the law. These changes include participation of children and youth with disabilities in state and districtwide assessment programs; the way in which…

A study was undertaken at Harrisburg Area Community College (Pennsylvania), a non-unionized institution, regarding the function and effectiveness of the Faculty Council in policy formation and decision-making. A three-part survey covered the role of the Council in policy-making, the function of standing committees, and possible alternative…

This unit provides six lessons in which students develop a strategy for political action on a local environmental issue. The unit emphasizes the process of solving political problems within the political system and may be adapted to any geographical or social problem. The first lesson introduces a general environmental issue and requires students…

This guide outlines a social studies unit on rights and responsibilities for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. A major objective of the unit is to teach children positive and constructive methods for resolving their conflicts within a framework of fairness to all persons concerned. The unit helps students understand why standards, rules, or laws…

The field of conflict resolution in the social studies curricula is considered in this paper. The author presents a repertoire of creative and peaceful conflict resolution approaches in a copyrighted appendix. Techniques are described and contrasts are drawn with current social studies curricula. Some of the effects of teaching part of the…

The text, designed to help prospective and experienced administrators and supervisors increase their knowledge and skills, includes cases and concepts that should be useful for introductory courses in administration or for courses dealing with problems of school administration, the principalship, supervision, and school-community relations. The…