Briefly describes the educational systems of Western Europe as essentially similar despite a few variations. Comments on the economic support provided for education, the structures and clienteles of the various systems from elementary school through higher education, and the range and content of the curricula offered. (PGD)

Two competing images present schools as either rational bureaucracies or loosely coupled systems. Teachers in 13 Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) schools were surveyed on two dimensions distinguishing these images: goal consensus and influence centralization. The results suggest that high schools fit the loosely coupled image and elementary schools the…

The prevailing trends in American education-- centralization, bureaucratization, and hyperrationalization-- are being pressed upon the institution of schooling through current modes of educational change. A better approach is to increase human control over educating, locating responsibility for educational improvement with the teachers themselves.…

Analyzes two private, secondary school rituals to determine why private schools are more effective than state schools in socializing students into acceptance of and support for the culture of the school. (Author/MW)

The authors examine and evaluate the introduction of mixed ability teaching at Pond Street Comprehensive School and draw conclusions on organizational change. (SJL)

Reports of a survey of 36 Southeastern United States geoscience departments on policy, faculty size, salaries, teaching, and research. Departments are classified into five categories by university enrollment. (Author/MA)

This article discusses general aims of the UNESCO Associated Schools Project and offers a case study of a primary school in Mexico City. (Author/DB)

The perceptions of Black and of White students toward each other in team-organized and traditionally organized schools were compared. Although Whites appear to have more negative perceptions of Blacks than Blacks of Whites, closer contacts of Whites with Blacks in the team-organized schools improve perceptions. (CJ)

Describes the development since 1939 and the success of Ysgolion Cymraeg, bilingual schools in the anglicized areas of Wales which seek to revive and maintain the Welsh language by using it as the chief language of instruction up to age 7. (SJL)

From his 20 years experience in modeling a comprehensive school according to genuinely comprehensive principles, the author gives a considered statement of his objectives and experiences. (This article is part of a theme issue on comprehensive education in Britain.) (Editor/SJL)

The author critiques those calls for the professionalization of teachers which fail to consider the political realities of school life. In the school bureaucracy, he argues, teachers are in competition with other groups for decision-making power. Therefore, increased teacher autonomy and authority hold potential for conflict. (SJL)

Reports on a study that investigated the causes for student truancy and responses to the problem by two urban California secondary schools. Holds that attendance problems are much influenced by organizational structures and that school administrators are inadequately prepared to shape effective attendance policy. (GC)

The impact of language across the curriculum programs on the structure of schools is discussed in this interview with researcher and teacher Douglas Barnes. (HTH)

School administrators need to devise a study of administration that can investigate the manner in which fundamental structures influence social relations. Administrators must understand cultural and social conditions and develop a value position to determine and defend their actions. (JN)

In this 1979 replication of a 1974 survey, 234 high school principals provided information on perceived influences on curriculum, groups involved in curricular decision making, and use of 20 curricular arrangements and offerings, such as departmentalization, independent study, competencies, moral education, and unified studies. Five-year trends…