As applied at Lincoln Elementary School in Evansville (Indiana), the Teacher-Directed Inservice Education Program allowed teachers to direct their own learning by contracting for consultation during regular school hours to meet specific needs. The program meets seven guidelines suggested for effective inservice education, including administrator…

Investigated use of the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) as an informational input mechanism into the formulation of a Solar Energy Plan. Data collected from a questionnaire indicated that the NGT was rated as being a highly effective mechanism providing input into the solar energy planning process. (Author/RC)

In a four-year study, an assistant professor of educational administration asked superintendents and their staffs to characterize superintendents' leadership styles. Definitions generally fell into the category "power over" rather than "power with/to." Superintendents must learn to speak about power as a collaborative concept,…

Democratic schooling extends beyond governance structures into all areas of educational practice. What are appropriate practices for democratic schools? This question was addressed by a qualitative study of principals in schools striving to become more democratic. These principals expanded decision-making involvement and discourse, stressed…

Examines principals' leadership style (transformational or transactional), decision-making process (autocratic or participative), and teachers' occupation perceptions on teacher job satisfaction in Israel. Finds that teacher perceptions of occupational prestige, self-esteem, autonomy at work, and professional self-development contribute the most…

Discusses how, despite recent legislation that promises them a bigger role in the state's two-year colleges (often referred to as AB1725), California faculty continue to face obstacles to shared governance, such as the recent trend toward corporate models in college governance. (EV)

Evaluates the importance of mutual trust and understanding in the workplace, and presents practices that promote the sense of ownership and the steps necessary to instill an environment in which leadership is everyone's business. (Contains 11 references.) (Author/MLF)

Community education seeks equal partnership between community and learning. By respecting differences, empowering adult learners, and fostering self-actualization, community education effectively meets the learning needs of culturally diverse populations. (SK)

Examples of popular education in the United States include the Bay Area literacy project in California, a movement for ethnic and minority education and organization; the Tenant Management Program in Chicago; and a master's degree program for community leaders in Chicago's Hispanic community at the Universidad Popular. (SK)

In 1984, the faculty of an Ohio inner-city high school was charged by district administrators with developing a school improvement plan to involve teachers in decision-making. The result was a faculty senate, complemented by a curriculum council. Yearly plans and five-year goals were also instituted, along with a changing role for the principal.…

Self-directed teams, in which the people who do the work are responsible for managing it, are changing the practices and structures of many organizations. Self-managing teams are based on trust and empowerment, on treating workers as responsible adults. (SK)

When group activities in business classes become dysfunctional, the conflict can be used as a teaching tool to explore the resolution of real workplace problems. Faculty should be skilled in facilitating group participation. (SK)

Describes one Florida principal's pursuit of school-based management and shared decision making for the wrong reason--to escape from central office domination. Although chosen as the lesser of two evils, the new committee structure has worked well for Myrtle Grove School. Since giving up veto power to gain staff trust and commitment, teacher…

Meaningful and lasting school improvement can only occur in an appropriate climate and must be characterized by commitment, solid research about collaborative working styles and outcome-based education, and stable leadership. Leaders in the school improvement process should be constantly prepared to deal with the unexpected. Includes three…

A state-sponsored pilot program is allowing the faculty at two North Carolina schools to experiment with school reform. Lead teachers serve as instructional leaders and coordinate teachers' efforts to develop class schedules, plan and organize inservice training, and analyze test scores. (MLF)