A 3-year research project was conducted to compare the conflict management behavior of school superintendents and city managers, both of whom are professionally trained experts held accountable to lay legislatures. Chapter 1, "Professionalism and Responsiveness," addresses the inherent tension, in a democracy, between elected officials'…

School administrators' uses of subjective understandings and common language to gain and maintain power and predictability in their environments are described. Micropolitical theory, with a focus on language, is utilized to understand administrators' knowledge of the assumptive worlds of their subculture, and how these assumptive worlds constrain…

Focusing on encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning and giving them a sense of control over their efforts, this book explores how the response approach to writing instruction can be put to good use in teaching children to read. Respectively, chapters discuss (1) how the author learned about writing, reading, teaching,…

This volume provides information and recommendations about public relations to assist school administrators in developing effective communication. The document contains 15 chapters. "The Scope of Public Relations," chapter 1, specifies characteristics of and individuals responsible for an effective program. Chapter 2, "Personal Public Relations,"…

One of the seven correlates of an effective school, as identified by the Effective Schools Research, is a positive school climate: a positive attitude on the part of the entire staff and student body exhibited through overt behavior that creates a warm, orderly learning environment. Development of such an environment depends upon: (1) strong…

This document includes four papers presented at a symposium, based on a synthesis of five years of research--on the interaction of role groups and factors in the change process that are critical for school improvement in elementary and secondary schools. The papers identify elements of the change process crucial for the success of proposed changes…

This monograph guides administrators in developing policies that lead to improved supervision of instruction. Chapter 1, "The Mystery of Effective Teaching," by Barbara Benham Tye, focuses on improving schools' work environment through the supportive methods of clinical supervision. Arthur L. Costa describes five phases of the process…

This booklet is intended to help teachers and principals examine their roles, responsibilities, and relationships to create a quality instructional program at the school site. It consists of guidelines intended to foster a positive school environment; to encourage and facilitate discussion, collegiality, and mutual professional respect; and to…

Two addresses presented at a conference of top administrators of traditionally black colleges are presented. In "The Clarion Call: Imperatives for the Pursuit of Excellence," Robert J. Albright discusses urgent issues in the survival and strengthening of historically black institutions. The paper begins by examining the significance of…

This module, one in a series of competency-based administrator education learning packages, focuses on specific professional competencies needed by vocational education administrators. The competencies upon which these modules are based were identified and verified through research as being important to the success of local administrators of…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 16 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: (1) the relationship between selected teacher personality traits and the teaching behaviors of remedial reading teachers; (2) reading program problems of beginning…

Beginning with a review of signs and signals of public attitudes toward American education over the last 15 years, this paper analyzes some concerns regarding public confidence in public schools. Following a brief introduction, issues involved in the definition and behavioral attributes of confidence are mentioned. A synopsis of three approaches…

Policy issues relating to the integration of information and communications technology into higher education are addressed, primarily for those with policy development responsibility at the state level. The following chapters are included: (1) "State Higher Education Policies in the Information Age: An Introduction to the Issues" (Robert…

Designed to help principals in rural and small schools, this volume contains 29 articles under the three broad headings of new possibilities in everyday practice, applications of recent research, and initiatives to help schools and communities grow. The editors' introduction notes the challenges facing small school administrators, the problems…

Six papers, which comprise Part II of "Studies in Curriculum Decision Making," explore: (1) actions taken by those in nonteaching roles to facilitate teacher effectiveness; (2) how helpful these actions are likely to be; and (3) what individuals in nonteaching roles can do to assist teacher effectiveness. Interviews and questionnaires…