Explores the assumption that Australian state school systems are too highly centralized and inflexible to cater to students' diverse educational needs. An examination of Queensland and New South Wales schools shows that system-level directives are not unduly prescriptive. Regional office staff often practice "benign neglect" of central…

Describes recent efforts at educational reform in the USSR and analyzes the first results of these actions. Notes that educational reform requires not only improvement in content and organization, but also a change in teachers' consciousness and increased funding. Lists eight programs established to stimulate reform. (KO)

Presents the first William Walker Oration given to the the New England Association for Educational Administration in Armidale, Australia. Following a history of the establishment of the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration, the role of leadership in the education system is described; particularly the transformational leadership. (22…

Drawing on NAEP assessment data and economic and educational arguments for restructuring, this article discusses the Holweide Comprehensive School experiment in Cologne, West Germany, and presents an Incentive Schools plan stressing team management, cooperative learning, and revamped assessment methods. Includes 16 references. (MLH)

The causes of violence in schools, as in society, are multiple and complex; they are rooted in the intolerable economic and social conditions created by Brazil's development model, characterized by unequal wealth distribution, widespread poverty, and an exclusive society. By mirroring this exclusionary process, the educational system is inherently…

Investigates how school organizational culture is related to important organizational characteristics and how the profiles of strong culture-effective schools differ from those of weak culture-inefficient schools, in terms of organizational variables, teachers' job attitudes, and school effectiveness criteria. The survey of 54 randomly sampled…

Generally, secondary schools experience more difficulties than elementary schools in meeting the demands of inclusive education practices. Article draws on teacher interview data from a study of two Nova Scotia junior high schools attempting to accommodate handicapped students in regular classrooms. Although teachers were fearful and frustrated by…

Studied an overseas high school to gain a better understanding of how cultural elements affect school organization. The high school's culture cuts across adult and student groups in the areas of academics and school spirit. These commonalities, or reinforcing elements, fit the organization's purposes. The authoritarian principal was a catalyst who…

Considers derivation of the strategy concept and its deployment as a managerial planning technique. Examines the related growth of school development planning, exploring ways it might be considered strategic. Using strategy in organizations is no longer either possible or appropriate. Proposes an alternative planning basis derived from marginal…

Evaluates the UK government's performance-management initiative for teachers. This measure, which aims to modernize the teaching profession, raise standards, and provide financial rewards for individuals, teams, and whole-school performance, has been soundly criticized. However, the initiative is flawed, as it neglects some important school…

Describes size, contents, organization, and social psychological function of teachers' rooms in Japanese junior high schools, which serve as centers of daily educational activities and interactions among teachers, between teachers and students, and among students themselves. (PKP)

Explores the relationship between (Ontario) secondary-school organizational structures and implementation of legislated change initiatives. Examines the role of individuals responsible for implementing two legislated curriculum innovations: curriculum integration and performance-based assessment. Implementing whole-school or subject-based…

This publication, part of a series entitled "Guide to Secondary Education in Europe," contains a brief description of secondary education in Denmark. The first section presents a general overview of the educational system, uppersecondary education, the transition from uppersecondary education to higher education, central government and…

This report provides a synthesis of the principal trends concerning access to higher education in Europe. The paper treats five themes, the first of which, higher education structures, notes that the dominant trend is towards greater institutional diversity. A discussion of enrollment finds that France, Germany and Sweden have enrollment rates…

This monograph describes the system of higher education in the United Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The preface points out that despite perestroika, two features of Soviet education persist, a high degree of unity and centralization and a close link between higher education and employers. Chapter 1, "Historical Overview," begins…