Social studies education should take place in a democratic atmosphere where students participate in decisions that affect them, raise and cope with moral and ethical considerations, and are a vital part of the governance of the school and classroom. A manifesto for such a democratic education is presented. (RM)

Faculty will participate in renewal when there is clear evidence that opportunity exists for change in the structure and functioning of academic programs and services and that status quo management may damage the institution's integrity. Faculty must also understand the scope and application of financial information shaping the resource flow. (MSE)

Presents a retrospective look at two citizen participation programs of the 1960s and 1970s. Cautions that involving the community cannot be left to chance but must be planned and structured. Presence of a school council may not mean that the entire community will have an interest in the life of the school. (SA)

The possibility that technology can be used to provide qualified citizens direct access to and participation in political decision-making processes will influence the social studies curriculum like no other innovation or event in our history. Teachers must introduce basic concepts of responsibility and participation in terms of direct democracy.…

Examines gap between private and public life and the resulting decline in civic participation. Emphasizes role of experiential education in developing civic consciousness through collaboration with business and community and utilizing its unique characteristics. Stresses benefits to experiential education, including ways to transfer peak…

Offers solutions to the problem of teacher isolation. (HOD)

Analysis of three English schools indicates that "low morale" is a diffuse phenomenon used by teachers to describe important aspects of their response to working life. It is always better management practice to accept this perception of reality than to take on defensive postures or deny its existence. (MLF)

Whitmore Lake's (Michigan) outcome-based planning model emphasizes starting the planning process by obtaining consensus on desired outcomes; involves students, teachers, staff, parents, and community in planning; and identifies the responsibilities of students, the home, and the school in helping students achieve the desired outcomes. (MJL)

Effective training, evaluation, and incentives are key aspects of this school system's six-level career ladder program for teacher development. The three-pronged committee structure for planning and communication and the program's ownership by everyone involved have been vital to its successful planning and development. (DCS)

A five-year school climate improvement program at a Colorado school district reduced discipline referrals, thefts, vandalism, and the daily absentee rate. The key to the program's success was directing the students toward responsible and humane behavior and helping them develop positive interpersonal skills. (MLF)

Describes organizational factors that influence most instructional development projects, relates them to the features of the project-oriented matrix, and lists and explains specific matrix management strategies that instructional developers can use to solve common management problems. (MBR)

In recent years, a concern surrounding technology access to historically marginalized populations, referred to as the "Digital Divide" (Divide), has surfaced. This analysis examines the Digital Divide from a socioeconomic standpoint, and discusses the effects of the Divide on students. Also addressed are the varying perspectives towards the…

In this short article, the author discusses how Henderson Middle School in Jackson, Georgia used shared decision making to improve student achievement through the use of laptop computers. With effective use of technology and shared decision making, administrators at Henderson believe that they can continue to achieve Adequate Yearly Progress under…

School leaders are finding that business as usual is no longer an option. This fastback provides a framework for thinking about the multiple demands of school leadership, suggesting that the different models of leadership can be reconciled by considering them to be complementary strategies. The fastback describes the hierarchical,…

One of the most widespread restructuring reforms involves decentralizing decision making to schools and sharing decision making with a variety of groups. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the organizational conditions in schools using School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) where there is higher quality instruction and greater…