The Open University course on roles and relationships enables people engaged in helping others to strengthen theoretical understanding of what they do and why and to reflect on ways to improve practice. (SK)

Analysis of questionnaire responses of 51 regular elementary teachers and 50 paraprofessionals in British Columbia classes which included handicapped children found both groups tended to agree on actual, preferred, and not appropriate paraprofessional tasks. Task endorsement was primarily determined by the age, grade level, abilities, and needs of…

Discusses two propositions and two policies governing site-based management and the curriculum specialist role. The principal's role is changing from building manager to instructional leader. The role of department head or curriculum specialist is not clearly defined in the literature. However, the central office expert will no longer dispense…

A study identified eight cognitive roles played by college presidents' administrative teams and concluded that the resulting complexity, although difficult to manage, may improve executive-level leadership. Teams with multiple cognitive roles typically include a cognitively complex president, norms favoring cognitive diversity, and varied…

To comply with Britain's 1988 Education Reform Act, school governors (elected or appointed advisory bodies of parents, teachers, community and local political party representatives) required new training. This article examines training in one shire county during the mid-1980s, compared with improved, "unitary" development services in…

A study of 434 Maine principals explored determinants of principals' perceived success. Role clarity was a better predictor of success than time spent involved in 41 activities. Elementary principals felt more successful than secondary principals. Participants were busy managers, but lacked a sense of agency as school leaders. (16 references) (MLH)

Describes an approach to faculty development that relies on faculty learning from one another through peer observation. Rather than equating such observation with evaluating a colleague's performance, faculty observers are urged to approach the assignment as "students of teaching." (DB)

Examination of the role of teacher educators at one small college in England finds teaching staff are labeled as either academics or non-academics (educationalists). Argues that educationalists are excluded (and exclude themselves) from participation in the academy and inhabit another world which more accurately mirrors the school room than the…

Advises new substitute teachers to be prepared, tote emergency activity folders, dress professionally (but wear flamingo earrings), be early, figure out the game plan, communicate expectations to students, enforce consequences, have a gimmick to reward cooperation, relish the teachable moment, leave the room tidy, and believe in themselves. (MLH)

Focuses on the proper place of interlanguage pragmatics in the realm of second-language acquisition (SLA). This introductory essay describes the thematic issue of the ensuing articles as an endeavor to move interlanguage pragmatics more closely toward the center of SLA. The research suggests that many aspects of pragmatic competence can be…

In asking whether certain forms of professionalism are unsuitable for adventure education, the point is made that our professionalism is based on our world view. Compares elemental and city-capitalism world views, and discusses ideal types of professionalism: bureaucratic, vocational (liberational), and relatedness-diversity. Suggests that…

A serious teacher shortage is causing some school leaders to reconsider differentiated staffing within the teaching profession--the idea that individuals with differing levels of expertise and different titles can enhance other staff's effectiveness. Higher salaries and publicly disclosed diplomas and licenses are essential. (MLH)

A qualitative 3-year case study followed three deaf interpreters in an inclusive school. Results of interviews indicated that, in addition to sign interpreting, the interpreters clarified teacher directions, facilitated peer interaction, tutored the deaf children, and kept teachers and special educators informed of the deaf children's progress.…

In this article, the author describes how the quest for external funding has dominated academic science and argues that today's scientists should think about pledging allegiance to traditional academic values. Enthusiasm for the pre-Cold War model of the university can probably not be justified in utilitarian terms or explained as a consequence of…

Numerous incidents have been reported in recent years wherein a work of art is mistaken as trash. The question is, how have people reached the point in the civilized world where a purported work of art cannot be distinguished from a pile of rubbish or a grid of condensation pipes? The answer to that question lies in the basic assumption of nearly…