Reviews David Cameron's "More than an Academic Question," which summarizes the development of Canadian universities and provides a framework for understanding the relationship between universities and the government, outlining the theme of Canadian federalism and discussing the shifting balance between federal and provincial policies.…

Describes an integrated database developed at Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia) that includes bibliographic records, thesauri, and a union catalog of serials. Information products and services are described, fields and formats of the records are explained, data conversion and downloading are discussed, and sample records are appended. (five…

A study investigated the relationship of certain teacher characteristics (gender, teaching experience) and current work situation (K-6, secondary, or administrative) on perceptions of what teaching involves, actions taken during a work-to-rule campaign, and attitudes toward work-to-rule. Results are discussed in terms of the social and…

A union lawyer contends that, for school-based management to be implemented, teachers must want greater control over school operation, and management must be willing to share its power. A management representative states that the biggest obstacle to school-based management has been a reluctance of some unions to agree to deviate from a master…

The trend toward unionization for graduate students employed as teaching assistants by colleges and universities is examined, and the content of union contracts at five major universities is analyzed, looking at provisions for salary, health insurance, salary increases, grievance procedures, and appointment letters. Activism at three other…

Describes the Hawaii Department of Education's School Library Network Project and its approach to retrospective conversion for more than 200 school library media centers using a combination of 3 methods: in-house, full data entry; in-house, partial data entry; and full vendor contract. It is noted that a combination of these methods provides the…

Discusses past influences on Russia's libraries, examines current improvements in the Russian library situation, and considers prospects for the future. Highlights include the publishing industry; government economic problems; financial support from trade unions; outdated materials; dissatisfied users; and censorship under past regimes. (LRW)

Describes the role of Francois Laurent in shaping the educational system of Ghent (Belgium), an early industrialized city, during the late 1800s. Discusses the social and educational issues that resulted from industrialization, the creation of a working class, and the needs of working class children. (CFR)

A case study of district-level factors that enabled eight Ontario secondary schools to assume added administrative responsibilities found that after two years, district-level factors contributing to change were the actions of a steering committee, emerging professionalism in the teacher union, district history, individual personalities, and a…

Teachers' unions are formidable foes of meaningful education reforms. Their control of education results from nearly four decades of political power during which they have pressured lawmakers and school board members to shape education policies, laws, and contracts in their favor. The resulting frustration of long-ignored parents is manifesting…

Frustrated by the ways in which large managed-care companies are controlling physicians' lives and professional practice, the American Medical Association has voted to form a union to represent physicians and medical residents. Academic physicians have shown less interest than others. (MSE)

In 1997, the National Education Association and the Teacher Union Reform Network urged local union affiliates to adopt a collaborative approach to negotiating with school boards and administrators. Research indicates that the cost of education in union districts is from 8-15 percent higher than in nonunion districts. Effects on student achievement…

Presents four initiatives to make Canadian teacher unions more customer-centered and competitive: (1) make union membership optional; (2) sell union services to members and nonmembers; (3) lobby for school-level concerns and conduct controversial political lobbying through arms-length organizations; and (4) take more supportive stances toward…

Four decades after collective bargaining came to public education, school boards and the superintendents they hire still routinely blame teacher unions for causing massive inefficiencies, stifling innovation, and preventing change designed to promote student learning. "Our hands are tied," school boards commonly complain when school…

As Taiwan's state apparatus began to democratise, the question arose as to how teachers' practices might inform the wider process of contextual changes, i.e. societal, economic and political changes. This article explores this issue through an examination of how teachers seek to alter the relations of authority by arguing for independent teacher…