This book identifies two competing traditions of American democracy and citizenship: a dominant, privately-oriented citizenship tradition and an alternative tradition of public democratic citizenship. Based on the second tradition, the book outlines a set of qualities an effective democratic citizen must possess, as well as a number of ideal…

A technical assistance project in a rural Virginia school district included the goal of building professional learning communities among the district's teachers. Three instruments that measure various elements of a learning community culture were scheduled to be administered to teachers at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the 4-year project.…

This study examines the personal empowerment and efficacy of teachers, relating these constructs to environmental characteristics in order to provide information for school counselors who are helping teachers in personal growth. The study also assesses the relationship to teacher conceptual level in order to determine its relationship to…

Explores the benefits of teacher leadership as well as the barriers to and opportunities for making teacher leadership work in practice. Concludes that teacher leadership could have beneficial effects on school improvement, but that the right conditions need to be in place. (Contains 79 references.) (MLF)

Focuses on three changes that occurred in the twentieth century: (1) more children receive access to the study of art at all educational levels; (2) art teachers receive more training, education, and resources; and (3) art teachers have less choice in designing curricula and endure more regulation. (CMK)

Describes the development of the Lunch Lab program at the Mineola (New York) Middle Schools, part of a school improvement program incorporating teacher empowerment. A committee of seven teachers and two administrators researched, developed, and implemented the pilot project that provides a special time for seventh graders to receive extra help…

Systems chosen for teacher appraisal in both United Kingdom and United States frequently reflect interests of end users rather than teachers themselves. Drawing on experiences of group of teachers involved in open-ended evaluation process, this paper examines various appraisal systems and argues for those empowering teachers to reflect on their…

A survey of teachers revealed that principals who want to promote classroom instruction must talk openly and freely with teachers about teaching and learning, provide time and encourage peer connections for teachers, empower teachers, embrace the challenge of teachers' professional development, and lead and motivate teachers. (MLH)

Follows the progress of "negotiation" (a force for democratizing the curriculum) in Tasmanian English classrooms, claiming it (1) allows a fluid space where teachers and students can work together; (2) provides an alternative to direct and indirect political influence over curriculum construction; and (3) has the potential to empower…

Examines participation issues of (British) department heads in whole-school decision-making processes to determine whether such participation represents true empowerment. Three models emerged, with varied results. Collegiality offers many persuasive benefits but is difficult to attain. Hierarchical and horizontal structures' effectiveness needs…

Examines aspects of initial teacher education and continuing professional development in Scotland against the backdrop of McCrone Report recommendations on teaching conditions. Discusses teachers' attitudes toward their own professional development; the nature of professional knowledge, skills, and values; and some principles to promote genuine…

Considers interrelationships among school climate, teacher empowerment, and school effectiveness, based on measures of mathematics and reading achievement in 86 New Jersey middle schools. Results show that teacher empowerment is pivotal to school effectiveness. A theoretical model explains linkages between organizational characteristics and…

Describes how one teacher used an instructional Web site to encourage student learning, explaining how such Web sites can create teacher development opportunities. The paper explains how to get teachers to build and use instructional sites and how to empower teachers to participate and innovate. Sidebars describe the school, explain what makes a…

A teacher's attitude--whether good or bad--trickles down to the students. According to Tom Carroll, who serves in the capacity of president of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, there is no teacher shortage but a horrendous turnover and attrition problem. Teachers who are leaving are constantly being replaced. The conditions…

Several accounts concerning the systematic use of action research by eminent educators in the process of identifying and solving an educational problem(s) have appeared in professional journals. Thus, action research is gaining recognition by policy makers and educators as a tool for change However, this growing concept has not yet caught up in…