Explores the experiences of eight African American administrators at predominantly white institutions in southeastern United States. Notes four major themes: (1) race (race as an issue of first position, as a part of the administrative experience, in relation to perception of role, and struggles with the predominantly white environment); (2)…

Examines the principal needs for educational reform in Poland as outlined in the reformist programs of Polish political parties, the opinions of Polish educational experts, and reports by international organizations. Outlines elements of national reform proposed in 1998 to expand secondary and higher education, equalize educational opportunities,…

Discusses the emergence of today's academic labor movement in higher education, noting problems of pay and working conditions among adjunct faculty and graduate students. Explains the historical context, why the movement is important, where the academic leftists are in this movement, what can be done about the situation, and what follows.…

Illustrates how the culture of teacher education developed after World War II in New Zealand, highlighting the former Palmerston North College of Education and contending that the culture was shaped by: the ongoing requirement to train (at minimal cost) competent elementary teachers in accordance with government laws of supply and demand and…

Presents an open letter to President Clinton regarding his statements about reading standards and testing made in his 1997 State of the Union Address. Points out serious problems in having a national reading standard and trying to get every fourth grader to meet that standard. Discusses problems with curing the so-called reading problem by use of…

Starts with a macro or global analysis of television, leading into an examination of how media (television and commercials in particular) functions at a micro or personal level. Proposes ways these issues can be transformed into challenging and meaningful curricula that teach students to engage in critical evaluations of the content and broader…

Argues that the new progressive liberalism takes away the need for self-mastery as the national government assumes functions that once came under self-government. Education may be the segment of American life most highly organized according to progressive ideas of management, and it is an area where increasing numbers of parents are trying to…

Although prevailing research indicates that holding back students carries negative effects, retention is becoming ever more popular. Administrators seeking secure funding for retention alternatives face considerable resistance, while the decision to add a full year of expenditures for a retained student is made without considering budgetary…

LISREL, a form of multidimensional statistical analysis, is used to analyze the interrelationships of 14 variable elements influencing higher education policy. The aim of the method is to discover which elements carry the greatest weight and, in relationship to which others, in the tension between higher education and government. Focus is on…

Describes the creation of Web-based multipurpose multimedia databases concerned with the Supreme Court and other historically and politically significant institutions, events, and actors. Addresses four evaluation questions on whether the database will help less-skilled students; help bright students and scholars improve their understanding and…

Offers a multiperspective description of what happened to elementary and secondary education in British Columbia in the wake of the 1988 Sullivan Royal Commission on Education Report. Requests separation of politics and educational reform. (VWC)

Finds that (1) all 29 state standards documents examined plan to include speaking and listening in their comprehensive language-arts curricula; (2) the majority of the standards also include media literacy; and (3) half of the documents reflect understanding of the constructs of "speaking" and "listening" consistent with…

Presents a conversation with eminent educator Dorothy Strickland, designated 1998 Outstanding Educator in the Language Arts. Discusses her books, being a "career mom," her role in writing the report "Becoming a Nation of Readers," the cycles that reading education seems to go through, professional development, "Reading…

In recent surveys, superintendents and principals reported several reasons why principals lose their jobs: failure to communicate positively; make wise decisions; build confidence, trust, and support among constituents; and manage complex political influences. Principals cited politics, ineffective administrative practices, and board conflicts.…

The urban school systems of four nontraditional superintendents (Harold Levy, Roy Romer, Paul Vallas, and Alan Bersin) include the nation's three largest (New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago) districts and San Diego. Some of these chief executives are managing more successfully than others; all four are facing difficult obstacles. (MLH)