Attempted to determine type of school organization that most benefited ninth-grade students. Results from ninth graders in junior high schools (n=771) and in high schools (n=825) indicated that ninth graders in the junior high school setting participated significantly more in extracurricular activities and achieved significantly higher…

Describes the process and preparation for making teacher-requested changes at Notre Dame High School (New Jersey). Narrates the planning that went into making the change to block scheduling, which includes an activity period and double-period class schedule, and discusses the impact of that change on in-service preparation for teachers. Concludes…

U.S. schools have experienced a perennial shortage of teachers. Recently, many school districts have been inviting foreign veteran teachers to help mitigate such teacher shortages. This study describes the initial cross-cultural issues four international science teachers encountered when they immigrated to teach in U.S. high schools, hi-depth,…

This report expands on earlier research that found evidence of strong links between school restructuring and improved learning among students in the first 2 years of high school. This report, based on 1992 National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS) data, analyzes data collected for most of the same students in their last 2 years of high school.…

This paper focuses on Frontier High School, a new school designed as an alternative to more traditional schools in its district. While the school is still clarifying its structure and philosophy, it is committed to "honoring diversity," defined in such terms as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, alternative…

Gay youth enter high school with the knowledge that they are different and with the belief that heterosexuality is normal and that homosexuality is not normal. Also, gay youth enter high school with the belief that honesty and integrity are important personal values. Additionally, the gay youth enter high school without family knowledge of their…

The purpose of this report is to explore the structuring of academic departments within contemporary comprehensive high schools. It begins with an argument for research on the organization of schools that takes account of the fact that high schools are fundamentally different structures from their elementary school counterparts and that…

A description is given of administrative and policy changes made in an alternative school serving delinquent students at the high school level. Previous to a reorganization of the school, and the development of a different philosophy, the school was mainly attended by students simply because they were on probation and the only alternative to…

By adapting the theoretical framework and tools of several organizational researchers, hypotheses are formulated and tested related to the problem of compatibility between student personality needs and the authority structure of schools. (Author/ND)

A revision and clarification of organizational authenticity in terms of responsiveness claimed by administrators and responsiveness experienced by teachers. (Author/ND)

Characteristics of private and public schools were compared in this study utilizing data collected in surveys by the National Institute of Education, the Council for American Private Education, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The aims of the study were to provide a national picture of secondary education and increase…

To meet the changing needs of its young people, Atlanta Public Schools searched for an organizational structure that would (1) permit more flexibility and individualization of instruction; (2) allow pupils to take one course, two courses, or a combination of courses and activities; (3) permit a wider selection of options; and (4) expand the school…

After an extensive study of school organization and discipline in a large number of schools, the author summarizes some of his findings about the way in which school organization can influence student behavior and teachers' coping skills. (Editor/RK)

Secondary school administrators must carefully consider the ramifications of a proposed alternative scheduling plan before proceeding with implementation. The first article in this newsletter presents findings from a study that compared data from two groups of schools (one group with a 4 X 4 block plan and the other with a trimester plan) to data…

This manuscript in two parts is one of the larger ones of the National Survey of Secondary Education. Part I was prepared by A. K. Loomis and Edwin S. Lide. It deals with the program of studies in junior and senior high schools; the purpose, principally, is to trace the trends. For instance, the programs of studies in 60 junior high schools were…