The curriculum and instruction specialist should not fall prey to the "expert syndrome," in which the specialist decides on the "best" curriculum or instructional method without considering the teacher's discipline or personality. (CJ)

Poses the following research questions: What are the relationships between the principal's innovation effort, principal effectiveness as perceived by teachers, principal effectiveness as perceived by superordinates, interpersonal climate of the school, and the technology level of the district? (Author/IRT)

Draws from psychological insights provided by attribution theory to examine the quality of relationship between birth parents, foster carers, and social service professionals. Advocates training both foster carers and social workers toward developing a more tolerant view and, where possible, replacing blame with compassion based on appreciation of…

Answers criticisms of "On What Basis Hope? Modern Progress and Postmodern Possibility" (Danforth), which used a postmodernist perspective to discuss the history and utilization of modern social science and the myth of scientific progress. The "validation trap" of scientific research and its limiting effect on innovation is discussed. (CR)

Describes attitudes and strategies used by two small rural towns to foster economic development and improve local housing, schools, professional facilities, and recreational programs for youth and adults. Emphasizes individual leadership qualities useful in creating a vision for community survival, communicating the vision through town meetings,…

Presents an overview of the world scenario of CD-ROM technology and highlights its future. Discusses the CD-ROM industry in India, lists the various CD-ROM products of recent origin, and concludes that India could adopt this technology for publishing Indian databases. (Author/LRW)

Ideas from postpositivist thinking have been particularly challenging for comparative education scholarship and its metanarratives. Analysis of articles in major comparative education journals in the 1990s examines the integration of ideas from 10 poststructuralist thinkers and explores in detail the appropriation of Foucault's ideas and…

A nation-wide survey of adoption agencies examined policies, practices, and attitudes regarding lesbian/gay prospective adoptive parents. Attitudes and practices were found to vary as a function of agency religious affiliation. Many adoption professionals were willing to work with lesbian/gay prospective parents, and nearly 38 percent of…

Birthmothers in the Republic of Marshall Islands were studied to explore influences leading to the decision to relinquish their child for international adoption. Findings reflect an environment of extreme poverty and lack of resources, breakdown of traditional family support systems, and the exploitation of the cultural understanding of adoptions,…

Used National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data to compare adolescent adjustment problems in two-parent adoptive families, two-parent biologic families, and step- or single-parent biologic families. Found that adjustment difficulties were far more common among adolescents in step- and single-parent families than in other groups.…

Outlines recent developments in educational technology, benefits derived from incorporating these developments into the educational process, and barriers that are frequently encountered in attempts to implement technological advancements. The discussion covers two model programs currently in place, one using audio telecommunications and the other…

Discusses theoretical procedures for introducing educational innovation. Shows how adult education innovations in Tanzania have been based upon misconceptions. Finds that the top down flow of innovations with its attendant communications problems and the overly broad scope of innovations are the major sources of misconceptions. Urges inclusion of…

Describes two studies of the factors that influence unmarried pregnant adolescents to choose adoption rather than parenthood. Study One examines the effect of perceived parental preference and vocational goals. Study Two examines the effect of perceived parental preference and attained vocational identity status. (FMW)

A survey of families who had adopted mentally retarded children approximately 5 years earlier found good family adjustment, with only 2 of 44 children not living with their adoptive/foster parents for reasons related to adjustment difficulties. The families had adopted or were fostering 12 additional children, 11 with handicapping conditions.…