Market theory positions the consumer as a rational choice actor, making informed schooling choices on the basis of "hard" evidence of relative school effectiveness. Yet there are concerns that parents simply choose schools based on socio-demographic characteristics, thus leading to greater social segregation and undercutting the…

When a major fire occurs in a school, the impact can be felt for years to come. How the school community rebuilds depends on strong leadership and the resilience of the members of that community. This article explores the stories of four Australian schools, two rural NSW schools, Kelso High School and Oxley High School and two urban schools;…

Research points to sections of the middle-class repopulating the "ordinary" urban public school and whilst there are key differences in how they are navigating public school choices, from "seeking a critical mass" to resisting traditional methods of choice and going "against-the-grain", or collectively campaigning for…

This study captures the experiences of language background other than English (LBOTE) preservice teachers using a case study approach to explore identity development. Wenger's (2000) "modes of belonging" form the theoretical framework to develop an understanding of the factors contributing to teacher identity. This article draws on…

This paper describes the development of an instrument to assess teachers' views on their geometry instruction and their classroom learning environments in six government high schools in southwest Sydney. The sample consisted of 18 Years 9/10 ESL teachers from participating schools. The study involved completion of a survey form using a modified…

Democratic political systems and the democratic way of life is aspired by most people around the world. Democracy is considered to be morally superior to other forms of political systems as it aspires to secure civil liberties, human rights, social justice and equality before the law for everyone regardless of their gender, culture, religion and…

Changes in student perceptions over the first year of high school and the interrelations of student and student-reported mother, father, and teacher perceptions form the basis of this study. Self- and task-perceptions as well as utility judgments are measured in two subject domains, mathematics and English, since the transition to high school has…

This report presents a survey of students 15 years and older who left Northern Territory (Australia) urban and Aboriginal secondary schools during 1988. The Northern Territory Department of Education and various institutions provided information on the background and destination of these students. It was possible to find information relating to…

A survey of a multicultural urban community investigated attitudes about the high school, including what the school should do for the students and how it should develop. Results will be used to guide the school's progress and help improve retention in grades 11 and 12. (MSE)

This report presents a survey of students 15 years or older who left Northern Territory (Australia) urban and Aboriginal secondary schools during 1989. Telephone surveys were conducted with participants and mail questionnaires were used when telephone contact was not possible. Of the 1,971 students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who left urban and…

In Perth, Western Australia, summative assessment has not been a teaching tool in the teaching of religious education courses in the Catholic schools. This study investigated whether the use of formal assessment procedures in the teaching of religion had an effect on student learning outcomes. Subjects were 128 students (4 classes) in year 8 of an…

During the Western Australian School Effectiveness Study (WASES), 28 rural and urban high schools and 3,500 students were surveyed to investigate features of effective schools, and 21 schools and 1,024 students were studied longitudinally. Effective schools were identified in terms of higher than expected science and mathematics achievement, when…

A study undertaken in Western Australia, the Western Australian School Effectiveness Study, explored the characteristics of effective high schools by investigating factors influencing science and mathematics achievement. A multilevel analytical model was used in the longitudinal study that focused on 1,024 students in 21 rural and urban high…

Six case studies of foreign language programs in diverse Australian secondary schools conducted as part of an effort to learn the state of secondary level foreign language instruction are presented. The studies were conducted through administrator, teacher, and student interviews, on-site observation, and verification of the final report by the…

Classroom management is a topic of enduring concern for teachers, administrators, and the public. It consistently ranks as the first or second most serious educational problem in the eyes of the general public, and beginning teachers consistently rank it as their most pressing concern during their early teaching years. Management problems continue…