While at one time it was common to refer to public education as a relative monolith and to think about the legitimacy imperative in education, now the very term "public" in U.S. education is no longer a very descriptive term. Consequently, the public schools are today surrounded by a much-widened variety of legitimation conditions and…

This book illustrates how principals can simultaneously act as efficient managers and effective leaders. Through a mixture of "knowing about" and "knowing how," the book offers new strategies to help principals integrate the technical management role with the symbolic leadership role. Chapter 1 illustrates the tension between the two approaches in…

In a specially designed forum, 30 teachers and administrators joined a group of researchers to interpret some recent research findings. Discussion groups focused on four issues: teacher and principal morale, specialists and conflict, teacher teams, and "loose coupling" between the district and school. A dynamic exchange of ideas resulted, with…

This case study explores the use of survey feedback--an organizational development technique--in an educational field setting. A version of survey feedback was used with an alternative high school to assist the staff in defining problems and in developing and implementing change strategies. Based on a perspective that focuses attention on the…

Many alternative schools established in the late 1960's and early 1970's eventually dissolved or became as traditional as their predecessors. This paper offers an organizational explanation of the failure of alternative schools. The author discusses criteria for identifying alternative schools and suggests a three-stage developmental model…

This paper focuses on the conflicts between communities and schools that occur as change and reform activities are implemented. The discussion (1) describes the nature of the relationship between educational organizations and the local (and more remote) environment; (2) suggests conditions that may cause the relationship between schools and local…

Examines the organizational implications of the recent education reform panels and commissions, including the question of expected linkage between reports and action at the local level. Looks at the commissions as ceremonies with deep symbolic meaning and the potential power to express, shape, reorganize, or create educational values. (RDN)

This book shows how educators can become more versatile managers and more artistic leaders. In part 1, chapter 1 shows why reframing--the use of multiple lenses--is vital to effective leadership and management. It introduces the four basic lenses for organizational analysis--the structural, human resource, political, and symbolic frames--and show…

This report builds a case for survey feedback as a useful method of assisting schools to respond actively, rather than passively, to uncertainty and complexity in the school environment. The main argument is that passive responses, such as defensiveness and buffering, reduce educational effectiveness. Planning, an active response, creates…