Accelerating social and economic changes have contributed to a widespread sense of alienation affecting the school and its functions, goals, and activities. To reduce unacceptable alienation levels, the school must clarify its own mission, understand the relationship between social and academic issues, define its responsibility, and encourage…

A mother of a 16 year-old suicide victim writes to school counselors who let her down by not informing her of important changes in her son's activities, personality, and choice of friends at school. The letter also addresses two psychologists in a psychiatric hospital who suppressed information about the boy's suicidal intentions and his…

Linda Page's article ("A Conservative Christian View on Values," this issue) mistakenly argues that the source of this country's moral crisis lies in a 30-year history of moral relativism in schools promoted by the values-clarification movement. Page unfairly blames educators for the growth in crime and violence and the decline of moral…

As schools merge onto the information highway, districts must address their liability associated with Internet access. Schools need a practical policy supporting high access to global educational resources while limiting district liability. USENET provides easy access to controversial and pornographic materials. This article outlines federal…

Too often, parents' social, economic, linguistic, and cultural practices are represented as serious problems, rather than valued knowledge. Some parents do not feel comfortable in the teachers' domain. Schools can help by clarifying how parents can help, encouraging them to be assertive, developing trust, building on home experience, and using…

With political support, Total Quality Management principles can help urban schools redefine schools' role, purpose, and responsibilities; focus on continuous improvement; plan comprehensive leadership training; create staff development confronting staff attitudes and beliefs; use research- and practice-based information to guide policy and…

Defying "liberal" and "conservative" labels, Communitarianism is a new social movement reflected in George Bush's endorsement of family values and Bill Clinton's calls for community service. Communitarianism does not uphold the individual's rights at all costs, nor impose moral solutions. The Communitarian agenda is to…

At a time of reduced social services funding, some children receive redundant services and others receive none. Fragmentation prevents social service professionals from seeing the cumulative impact of their interventions. Integrated children's services could be enhanced by school restructuring that provided more personal relationships between…

Because many drug-exposed children have normal-range cognitive abilities despite having some language-development and attention problems, schools do not have to build new special-education wings or teach these children one-on-one. Schools can serve these children best by setting up and coordinating intervention programs with other agencies. (18…

Discusses collaboration between the Research and Development Center and the Institute for Responsive Education and its national reform project called the League of Schools Reaching Out. League seeks to show how school-family-community partnerships can contribute significantly to school restructuring or reform aimed at increasing all children's…

Describes Georgia principal's efforts to integrate student with AIDS into her school community. Coomer's plan succeeded because few people knew boy's identity, teachers were willing to accept child as any other, and an educational program effectively briefed staff and parents. Three years later, child is articulate, hard working, but sick, and…

Resource-based learning can serve as the force and the source for instructional improvement needed in today's schools. Ingredients include cooperation for the delivery of top quality instructional experiences; reading and research skills; books, material, and media related to the school curriculum; and educational technology viewed as basic. (MLH)

Presents "typical" responses to a teacher's suicide at a fictitious high school, highlighting both appropriate and inappropriate responses. Actions such as holding an impromptu faculty meeting, providing counseling, and selecting a spokesperson worked. The district erred in having no existing plan or crisis headquarters, making misguided…

In an effort to protect themselves against lawsuits because of student injuries, schools have requested parents to sign exculpatory documents for extracurricular activities and consent forms for athletic activities. Reviews state and federal court decisions and the seven issues the courts consider. Provides a sample release form and caveats for…

Four Carleton College (Minnesota) women have sued the college for negligence in dealing with their allegations of on-campus rape. Across the country, female students say college administrations are not taking adequate steps to ensure student safety and are ill-prepared to prosecute rape. Accused men are also taking colleges to court. (MSE)