Policymakers have responded to increasing school violence with ameliorative policies and programs that don't necessarily reflect concerns of students, parents, and teachers. Using mini-case studies of three public school settings, this article identifies safe school characteristics from stakeholders' perspectives, discusses existing policies'…

Based on a survey among 1274 secondary school teachers in Flanders (Belgium), this paper describes the relationship between the assessment practices and forms of assessment policy (testing culture or assessment culture) and between forms of general school policy (student-oriented or achievement-oriented) and forms of assessment policy that…

Using Chester Barnard's acceptance theory of authority, this study of 125 secondary teachers and coaches explored relationships involving their "zones of indifference" or extent of response to orders by authority. Specific questions addressed were: (1) whether significant relationships existed between zones of indifference to…

A survey was conducted to obtain teachers' opinions on school prayer and the proposed school prayer amendment currently before the United States Senate. Fifty-five teachers and two student teachers completed a seven page questionnaire which surveyed their personal religious practices and beliefs, their attitudes toward the proposed amendment, and…

Examination of 45 secondary special educators revealed that they believe that school attendance is a privilege, not a right. Because they do not alter their diagnostic practices to match the students' cognitive development, the skills needed for success at careers and independent living are not taught. Policy issues are identified. (BJV)

The use of assumptions and language which liken school rule-breakers to criminal defendants does not accurately reflect the way the discipline system functions. In addition, there is no understanding among teachers and administrators of the Supreme Court's decisions in the area of school discipline. (Author/RLV)

This article describes one school district's efforts to improve the identification procedures for an elementary pullout program for gifted students through systematic reassessment and revision. Revisions made in the areas of student nomination, data gathering, data synthesis, diagnostic assessment, and validation are discussed. Results from…

Abused, ignored, sidelined, belittled. It's the human face of a systemic problem. Eva Cox and James Goodman report on a recent study of workplace bullying that highlights its effects on those being bullied, and the rather piecemeal administrative efforts to deal with it so far. (Contains 7 tables.)

In light of research findings on how calculators can enhance mathematics learning, this study investigated the uses of hand held, non-programmable, scientific calculators in secondary mathematics education throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley (New York). The study gathered data from 18 high school principals and 25 mathematics teachers in 32 school…

In 1989, a survey was conducted at Catonsville Community College to establish a consensus about the underlying philosophy governing the college's grading policy. The survey respondents included 167 full-time or adjunct faculty members, 15 student personnel professionals, 8 administrators, and 6 library, media, or telecommunications professionals.…

This paper discusses the treatment of minority group children in the public schools. Noting that the school's approach to the child's first language may determine where the child is "afforded great opportunity or faced with formidable problems," the author states: "The opportunity comes when the school works to build upon and…

"Pushouts" are victims of discriminatory discipline procedures in public schools. Pushouts first came into view with the publication of a book by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial and the Southern Regional Council. The book is called "The Student Pushout: Victim of Continued Resistance to Desegregation." The Office for Civil Rights in the Department…

A program in which children were released from school one hour and thirty minutes earlier than the regular time each Tuesday, to provide time for elementary school personnel to participate in inservice training activities, is described. Three Tuesdays each month were designated for individual school activities to be planned and implemented by the…

This workbook provides an instrument to objectively analyze a school's current climate with regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people and the steps needed to move that school toward a more inclusive environment. It provides a detailed assessment survey (to be completed by key school stakeholders), descriptive data, and…

This study examined the Council for the Advancement of Standards' (CAS) standards for new student orientation as a possible set of criteria for faculty governance unit orientation programs. A random sample of 50 faculty governance unit (FGU) leaders were asked to rate the 20 CAS standards re-framed as faculty orientation criteria. The five…