Characteristics of middle schools are analyzed, based on data from surveys in 1968 and 1988. In 1968, W. M. Alexander undertook a survey to provide benchmark data about middle schools with information from 110 schools. This study was replicated in 1988 with data received from 56% of the 10,857 schools approached. Comparison of these data confirmed…

A joint effort of educators at three Texas universities, this document presents information related to general and specific methods of teaching home economics. The document consists of 12 chapters, an appendix, and 38 references. Chapter 1 gives the history of home economics as a field of study and describes the secondary education courses in home…

This study of available evidence on cooperative union-management efforts to solve employment problems indicates that roughly one-half of the larger unionized manufacturing facilities have embarked on cooperative efforts. Thus, larger firms have already made the decision to cooperate or not, and targeting government money to them to encourage…

School administrative decisions must be based on a broad range of input; the power of group thinking is required to ensure that the best decisions are made. The necessary transition from the old, closed autocratic administrative decisionmaking system to a new, open democratic organization requires not a radical leap, but a gradual transition. The…

For effective schools, leadership is vital. As the structure of American education evolved, a model of how a local school board should function emerged. The model is briefly summarized and research on educational leadership, challenges of school board service in New York State, and responsibilities of school boards are discussed. Key leadership…

Cooperative group learning involves organizing students in small heterogeneous groups to work on academic assignments. This paper reports a staff development project to implement cooperative group learning for 417 general education middle school and junior high school students, including 41 special education students. To impart cooperative…

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a procedure for determining the degree of relationship of the many scores in the Tennessee Career Ladder Program to the final classification based upon this system. The program, now in its sixth year of implementation, places over 40,000 teachers and educational administrators within a career ladder…

Parental choice represents a promising approach to school improvement; it eliminates the excessive regulation, inefficient operation, and ineffective service that characterize the public monopolies that American schools and school systems have become. However, school reformers should bear in mind the following key points: (1) school performance…

This packet contains documents that provide information about family and child homelessness and the need to address homelessness within the context of community development. The following sections are included: (1) "Family Homelessness" (Homelessness Information Exchange); (2) "A Report on the 1988 National Survey on Shelters for the Homeless"…

A method of teaching public speaking adapted from the Toastmasters International program is presented for use in foreign language classes. Instructions need only to be translated into the target language and presented to students for immediate classroom use. The instructions address the structure of the speech class, writing and delivering the…

The 1987-1988 Project SPIRIT programs were evaluated for effectiveness from the points of view of the participants, both parents and children. An initiative of the Congress of National Black Churches that was begun in the summer of 1986, Project SPIRIT aims to nurture children's strength, perseverance, imagination, responsibility, integrity, and…

Over a 6-month period in 1989, an institutional review was conducted of the San Francisco Community College District (SFCCD) in order to develop recommendations for an organizational and administrative structure that would facilitate the fulfillment of district goals, promote professional performance, enhance the implementation of significant new…

In an effort to acquaint educators in social studies with resources in law-related education, this resource guide lists national and state organizations and coordinators and materials available through those organizations as well as those from various publishers and the ERIC database. Selected teaching and learning materials in various media are…

This document discusses the issues that need to be considered by the education and training system as it responds to the changing needs of industry in Great Britain. Following a general introduction, the development of quality management ideas is traced. The underlying principles of safety and risk management are clarified and the implications of…

This manual is designed to summarize the main features of the Alberta, Canada business education program and to make suggestions regarding the efficient management of resources, facilities, and equipment. The manual begins with overview materials that present the business program's rationale and philosophy, goals and objectives, an overview of the…