Explicates the rationale for efforts to promote the participation of children (and their parents and other interested adults) to help them feel that they are heard, noting the framework that is currently in place in most western countries, explaining this effort's foundation in international human rights law, and describing ways that it can be…

Examines the participation of young people in the Scottish Children's Hearings system, which combines juvenile justice and child welfare. Considers several dimensions of participation in relation to the system and other arenas of decision making. Suggests that participation rights may be more of a reality for young people involved in welfare…

Surveys parents' opinions regarding two types of participative school councils in Flanders, Belgium. Whatever their other merits, these new bodies are not in themselves a sufficient condition for increasing parental participation in schools' decision-making processes. Councils must develop a culture of cooperation. (Contains 21 references.) (MLH)

Reports the results of a conference on the Internet and anonymous communication organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Discusses how anonymous communications can be shaped by the law, education, and public awareness, and highlights the importance of involving all affected interests in policy development.…

Describes how a change to teacher leadership made a big difference for one diverse urban high school. Guiding principles included: the principal is the formal leader, but leadership is everyone's responsibility, and every professional is included in monitoring the renewal process. Staff learned that: change must address real needs,…

This paper discusses the ways in which the decline in trust of professionals and public institutions may impact public schools of the future, as they are increasingly seen as government utilities providing educational services. To counter this situation, scholars and citizen activists are experimenting with institutional reform strategies using…

After reviewing the literature on the power of collaborative community in schools, the authors describe interview data collected from educators involved in collaborative change projects related to literacy. First, the authors interviewed a teacher from a middle school team that had changed their literacy instruction toward a more inclusive and…

In this article the author discusses the community school concept and relates it to his own experiences as a student and educator in Missouri. It asserts that in developing a community school, participants in the school district must be willing to give of their talents and time to improve the social environment for all its inhabitants. Cooperation…

Collaborative decision making in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) involves negotiation among the parents and medical professionals involved with a premature baby. The authors introduce economist Herbert Simon's concept of "satisficing" as a model for collaborative decision making in the NICU. Satisficing (a hybrid of "satisfy" and…

Commentators on children's experience (largely the urban experience of the developed countries) indicate that publicly accessible open space for children is being limited due to commercialization, litigation, fear for children's safety, and changes in lifestyle. One of these open spaces facing change is the school grounds. Evidence is drawn from a…

The growing attraction between citizens and educators can form the basis of a fruitful school-community relationship. This new way of connecting, in which large numbers of people meet regularly to talk about school issues and find solutions, goes far beyond blue-ribbon commissions and school-business partnerships. To make the marriage last,…

In the eighties, elder abuse cases became of paramount concern to policy makers and those working in fields serving older adults. Very little research, however, has examined how the justice system handles cases of elder abuse. In this paper, the results of a study assessing how various professionals recommended punishing those who harm elderly…

With a new wave of campus IT solutions comes a familiar challenge: How does one encourage and help build distributed applications without being overrun by stovepipe solutions? Anticipating significant enrollment growth (5 percent per year) for the next several years, double-digit annual growth in funded research, and little chance that resources…

This case concerns conflict over decision making in a high school and highlights major differences of opinion regarding the purposes of schooling and the democratic ideals of education. Faculty members who have worked toward greater heterogeneity are at odds with parents who want more honors classes. The school's faculty council has instituted a…

This article focuses on data-based decision making at the school level and provides guidelines for principals. Necessary prior conditions, methods for developing a data-oriented culture, and expected outcomes are discussed. By using data, administrators can analyze programmatic decisions and promote empowerment of staff.