An ethnographic study of preservice teachers' professional perspectives indicated how important ethnographic methods are to study the complex process of teacher socialization. The article describes how preservice teachers create a practical philosophy of teaching and examines the psycho-social dynamics that underlie the development of professional…

Today's administrator must realize that being a leader, not a manager, is the norm for successful organizations. Leadership at all organizational levels is imperative to achieving organizational objectives. Managers exercise leadership by establishing a vision, accepting responsibility, taking initiative, and empowering others. Empowerment is the…

Discusses the status of training about sexual orientation in counselor education and the importance of including gender-related issues. Presents a brief review of research on lesbian/gay gender issues, and describes a course designed to prepare counselors-in-training. (JPS)

Uses two theoretical frameworks to examine principal effectiveness: a taxonomy of necessary people-management skills and the professional socialization process. Surveys 450 principals and 208 superintendents in California who had been appointed to their present position in 1989 or later. Results show strong agreement regarding critical skills for…

Comparison of 40 children with Down's syndrome and typically developing children (matched for mental age) found that the children with Down's syndrome appeared less engaged in a task, as indicated by shorter sequences of goal directed behavior and higher rates of toy rejection. They also displayed less causality pleasure with object exploration…

One year after graduation, 38.2% of a sample of 2,214 bachelor's degree graduates responded to a survey; sample was reduced to 378 working in for-profit organizations. Wide variability was apparent in socialization experiences and adaptation strategies; many were ambivalent about remaining. Results suggest a need to address new employee…

Pete Gameros's recent study examined effective principals' roles and attitudes toward providing services to students with disabilities. As inclusive principals, study participants accepted the ownership of all students, supported inclusive placement decisions, promoted a policy specifying all school personnel's responsibility for disabled…

Usable responses on the Goal Instability Scale, Career Decision Profile, and other measures were obtained from 196 high school students. Decisiveness/indecisiveness was associated with career choice comfort level, occupational knowledge, and negative affect. Goal stability/instability was associated with self-efficacy and positive affect. (SK)

In a study of way-finding strategies, female college students (n=288) were more likely to report using a route strategy (using instructions about routes), whereas men (n=138) were more likely to report an orientation strategy (using a sense of their own positions in relation to reference points). (SLD)

Traces the ideals of preservice teachers involved in a master's program aimed at preparing teachers who could make a difference. Discusses how students' ideals were affected by a year-long teaching internship and by a seminar focused on the teacher as change agent. Students discouraged by internship realities were reenergized by the seminar. (34…

Describes the Saskatchewan (Canada) School Improvement Program and illustrates the type of data available from annual evaluation reports. Based on some incongruities identified among specified goals, improvement strategies, and reported success, the paper makes a case for specifying, from the outset, the assessment strategies and success…

The I CAN (Independence, Completion, Accuracy, and Neatness) program is a motivational tool for elementary grade students with learning disabilities. Each student contracts for specific achievements in the four program areas, and parents and teachers contract for specific rewards. Daily review of goals as well as daily documentation of progress…

Discusses how to motivate students to learn history. Suggests using primary sources, relating subject matter to what students already know, and avoiding lectures whenever possible. Recommends formulating goals in advance, preparing reading lists, preparing questions for students, and assigning individual projects. Argues that such a course will…

Provides advice for managing the transition of new employees into an organization. Presents three models for employee orientation and development: self-managed peer groups, red carpet treatment, and "learning the big picture" (self-guided learning and organizational acculturation). (SK)

This article describes examples of five orientation programs for new college faculty (presemester centralized, presemester mandatory, during semester decentralized, during semester centralized, and adjunct faculty). A summary of results and costs considers attendance, value for individual faculty members, and value for the institution. (DB)