This paper has three purposes. First, it places in scientific perspective the growing acceptance in educational administration research of alternative methods to empiricism by an explication of chaos theory and its assumptions. Second, it demonstrates that chaos theory provides a scientific basis for investigation of complex qualitative variables…

The existing knowledge of the school environment is reviewed in this book, with a focus on its impact on educational effectiveness and student achievement. Chapter 1 examines how the composition of educational groups affect learning; chapter 2 focuses on the learning climate and cultures--the norms and values that characterize learning…

The ways in which principal belief systems develop in relation to superintendent role expectations for principals are described in this paper. Methodology included a literature review and participant observation during a 6-month field study to generate grounded theory. Findings indicate that superintendents' communication of role expectations to…

A comparison of mainstream and feminist theories to explain women's attainment of education in developed and emerging countries as it relates to individual achievement and life chances is presented. The questions of access to schooling and the years of education attained have become two critical indicators of women's progress. Mainstream theories…

Peace is one of the greatest needs in the world today. Until the causes of war are addressed, there can be no peace. Education, justice, and unity are the building blocks to peace and the necessary conditions for its existence. Achieving a peaceful world depends upon our willingness and efforts to remove those things that lead to war and to…

Explores two dichotomies that depict moral education and examines the strengths and weaknesses of the four principal orientations to moral education. Provides an integrated theory of moral education that incorporates both sides of each dichotomy providing necessary dimensions to research, theory, and practice of moral education. (Author/DB)

Responds to arguments that environmental education must be backed up by a theory of society. Sketches a paradigm that would be broad enough to cover all object areas relevant to a well-grounded pedagogy of environment, and links the basic idea of ecology with insights on scales and rhythms of time. (DSK)

The chapters in this book originated in an invited seminar at the Griffith University Gold Coast (Australia) campus on the occasion of a visit by Philip Wexler in December 1993. The seminar explored ways and means of transcending a postmodernist analysis of education. Although the examples are predominantly Australian, the issues are…

This paper names and describes a common, growing, and dangerous psychological syndrome: Youth Violence Syndrome (YVS). YVS is characterized by at least nine behaviors: (1) hopelessness; (2) a complete or great disregard for the laws followed by most Americans; (3) a short temper combined with a lack of empathy; (4) a desire for respect from others…

Rural people in their environment have the necessary attributes to successfully endure and survive those trials that would lead to urban decline. As societal problems require increased investment in existing institutions, the growing complexity eventually yields a lower level of benefits or returns. Urban problems such as hunger, homelessness, and…

Theories of learning and instruction usually are grounded in psychological and epistemological assumptions. However, these theories ignore the child in relation to his or her cultural and institutional context and ignore the schoolteacher from the social context that regulates the process of transmission and acquisition of knowledge and skills.…

A Rubik's cube analogy provides a perspective on the complexity of managing educational futures and the purposes, language, and assumptions of this monograph. A broad commentary on the relationship between society and education and an overview of the conceptual framework used to examine this relationship is followed by a comprehensive review of…

Beginning with a brief critique of the behavioral science approach to educational administration, this paper traces the roots of an alternative perspective through examination of the new sociology of education and critical social theory. Arguing then for the location of a critical practice of educational administration in a cultural analysis of…

This essay is a response to a review by Peter Gronn of the author's book "Schooling as a Ritual Performance." It addresses general issues raised by Gronn in order to situate the review in the larger context that addresses the failure of Gronn's mode of analysis. (TE)

This essay is a response to Peter McLaren's response to the author's review of Peter McLaren's book "Schooling as a Ritual Performance." It asserts that McLaren has failed to address the three major criticisms of his book: an alleged forsaken entanglement with theory; an alleged hidden agenda; and an alleged reinforcement of dominant…