Lack of an agreed-upon definition for the Regular Education Initiative (REI) represents a significant obstacle to coherent debate. Three interpretations of the REI exist: merger of regular education and special education, partnership between regular and special education, and full integration of all children into regular classrooms. (JDD)

Compares and synthesizes past decade of research into facets of wisdom, searching for a unified definition. Concludes that factors relating to wisdom (age, experience, intelligence, knowledge, intuition, common sense, and personality) can be unified theoretically if wisdom is viewed as the recognition of and response to human limitation.…

Examines how consumers, corporate bodies, and employees communicate about quality. Presents eight summary statements about quality based on descriptions, derived definitions, and interpretations given by consumers, corporate histories, and personnel employed in a variety of corporate settings. (MM)

Focuses on the experimental designs and methodology of 15 studies, most of which used only part of the methodology for the experimental analysis of behavior. Argues that the failure to fully use available research technology may have contributed to researchers' failure to make experimental contact with the definition of reinforcement. (RH)

Claims that group cohesiveness has proven to be astonishingly difficult to define precisely and consistently, although it remains a critical group-level variable. Notes that some researchers rely on classic definitions while others leave it undefined. Suggests that greater focus on the definitional issue should improve the quality of future…

Describes a writing exercise to help technical writing students determine the appropriate methods of extension for technical definitions, decide which terms need to be defined for a particular audience, and place definitions effectively in the document. (MM)

Explores institutional image as a key to providing a philosophy and a logical foundation for school improvement efforts. Identifies two image dimensions (cosmetic and pastoral) and classifies five school types (synergistic, candy store, disaffected, monastic, and survivor), and discusses implications for administrative action. Includes three…

The survey of 65 persons responsible for directing graduate degree programs in gifted education examined perceptions and attitudes toward the leadership development function of teacher educators. In general, the dimensions and definitions of the concept of leadership, as seen by respondents, were ambiguous. (DB)

Suggests that personal spelling dictionaries and spelling error analysis are strategies which will help students improve their spelling more than memorizing lists of unrelated words from spelling books. (MS)

Twelve literacy goals include new attitude toward illiteracy; clarification of the concept; articulated child-adult strategy; attention to women's needs; updating the field; attention to pedagogy; a literate environment; quality; better data; attention to preschool literacy; literacy in the context of basic education; and international cooperation…

Distinguishes between two meanings of literacy that have been conflated: the ability to read and write, and the broader concept of being educated. Presents three arguments: literacy is not social; literacy is not political; and the comprehension part of literacy is a relative matter, while the ability to decode is not. (RS)

This article presents an operational, inclusionary definition of dyslexia constructed by the Orton Dyslexia Society Research Committee and others. Each clause of the definition is explained in terms of relevant research findings. The definition attempts to identify unique factors of reading disability, independent of its common association with…

While exploring educational leadership concepts, a group of superintendents on retreat found "grace" considerably harder to define than "vision" or "legacy." Inspired by a superintendent's courageous response to imminent dismissal and another's handling of clinical depression, the group first conjured up graceless…

Examines contextual and definitional factors that determine whether and to what extent college students learn unknown words without instruction. Finds that the quality of the definition appears to determine the extent to which college students are able to learn unknown words. (RS)

Argues that literacy in the United States, more than an educational concern, is a powerful sociopolitical force. Describes many definitions of "literacy" from different contexts, including political and educational. Explains the origins of the OLRC (Ohio Literacy Resource Center). Concludes that in just one year of operation, the OLRC…