In many educational jurisdictions, the responses to student disengagement and behaviour problems have been restrictive or punitive; they include on-site police officers, locker searches, metal detectors, and zero tolerance policies. There is little evidence that such strategies are effective in changing behaviour, attitudes, or achievement.…

Offers administrators 15 guidelines for effective delegation, descriptions of 6 participatory decision making methods, and 5 procedures for problem solving. Discusses advantages and disadvantages of delegation and participation. (LFL)

Presents observations, advice, and strategies for facilitating participative decision making in schools. Information is based on interviews with principals, group input from school staffs, and researcher observations in a study of 10 "participative schools." Also includes strategies for enhancing cooperative teaching. (KS)

Describes three interrelated models for faculty development: (1) the School Improvement approach, in which school staff identify institutional goals and their own needs; (2) the Readiness, Planning, Training, Implementation, Maintenance (RPTIM) model; and (3) a model of effective inservice activities in RPTIM training and implementation phases.…

Discussions about what makes a good school often overlook the importance of encouraging active student involvement in creating their own school environment. In the wake of September 11, surveys showed a drop in youth participation in traditional politics and participatory citizenship. In this article, the author observes how despite the fact that…

Describes school restructuring themes that may be promoted through staff development, including developing a purpose and shared vision, challenging traditional norms of schooling, creating a collaborative school culture, establishing new roles in school governance, and encouraging reflective practice and critical inquiry. Addresses the role of…

Advocates the Redfern Model of teacher evaluation, which involves the teacher in the evaluation process through goal setting and self-evaluation in cooperation with the evaluator. The Redfern Model can be combined with the Classroom Observations Keyed for Effectiveness Research (COKER) as an objective measurement of classroom performance. (KS)

Teachers prefer that staff development be continuous, relevant, and integral to their jobs. A systems approach to staff development contains three basic components: planning, implementation, and evaluation. The proposed model emphasizes how interdependence of these components can be achieved through the use of feedback which facilitates system…

The League of Peaceful Schools was formed in Nova Scotia to support schools committed to building a culture of peace. Guided by League facilitators, member schools offer children models for building healthy relationships through service learning and elders programs. Member schools develop discipline policies that are proactive instead of punitive,…

Discusses the inherent conflict between decentralizing movements toward teacher empowerment and participative management and the centralization occasioned by increasing school bureaucratization and collective bargaining by teacher unions. Suggests the need for bold experiments in school labor relationships. Contains 24 references. (SV)

Describes the development of regulations to implement Prince Edward Island legislation guaranteeing the rights of the francophone community to French first-language instruction and participation in program development and administration. Discusses difficulties in devising an administrative scheme acceptable to both French and English communities.…

Examines the evolving role of parents in school decision making. Discusses the history of the parent-school relationship during the 20th century, categories of parent involvement, class and gender biases within the power structure, influence of principal's leadership style, needs for parent and educator reeducation, and development of true…

Confusion about the meaning of education makes truly educational leadership impossible. Education is a continuing effort to work at the worthwhile things in life, and educational leaders must bring communities together to discuss what is good and worthwhile, what kind of society they want to create, and what kind of education is consistent with…

John Naisbitt's "Megatrends" has implications for schools. Since most jobs require information processing, schools should teach students to operate computers, and develop their critical thinking, literate, numeric, and interpersonal skills. Administrators, as facilitators, should employ planning processes which include staff, students…

Suggests that school-based review (SBR), which links evaluation to school improvement, could make accreditation a more developmental process. Identifies six characteristic aspects of SBR in Europe and North America. Outlines the GRIDS project in England and Wales, which engages schools in problem solving as part of internal school development. (SV)