Describes forces that are causing libraries to make changes in how they do business and examines how libraries use management strategies to restructure their organizations. Presents two models that represent organizational structures designed to take into account the unique circumstances of libraries and addresses issues involved in moving to a…

The new concept of community must focus on the contributions of each group to the national culture and the uniqueness of each culture. It must define and affirm shared values. Common ground may best be found in civic culture. (SK)

The emotional life of community organizations and their members has been neglected in community development, although it can have an impact at individual, societal, and micro-social levels. Both the instrumental tasks and the emotions of organizations must be addressed. Understanding group dynamics can create awareness of this dimension. (Contains…

Discusses ways to advance middle school reform and break out of a rigid adherence to the orthodoxy of the middle school paradigm. Considers criticisms that middle school practice relies on organizational structures, ignores student needs and systemic change, and needs to heighten accountability and achievement. (JPB)

Discusses the hazards of prematurely assessing the result of middle school reforms, noting the phenomenon of the "J-curve" effect that models a decline during an adjustment period before showing a long-term improvement. Considers reasons for this initial decline. (JPB)

Scrutinizes three prevalent assumptions: (1) the Internet will change everything and everybody; (2) eventually, all human beings will be connected; and (3) people will have to learn a completely new way of thinking. Identifies "nondigital" skills that remain important: interpersonal effectiveness, filtering, propaganda resistance, breadth of…

Developed and tested an Institutionalization Process Model which posits that regulative, normative, and cognitive institutionalization processes affect the diffusion of curricular and pedagogical reforms beyond faculty members directly involved in the effort. Data from seven engineering schools indicated varying importance of regulative,…

Discusses what happens to a program when a teacher retires or leaves. Suggests that planning for the program's future must include academic preparation and skill development as well as considerations of its inherent purposes and what developing and maintaining its success requires. (JOW)

This article describes a model for curricular adaptations for gifted students. A distinction is made between non-significant curriculum adaptations that can be easily made by the regular teacher and significant curriculum adaptations that involve deep changes in aims, content, and evaluation criteria. (Contains references.) (DB)

Offers guidelines for choosing valuable, lasting initiatives to guide organizational change efforts. Highlights include analyzing the total picture by examining the organization's mission; focusing on core departments; changing processes before altering the structure or acquiring technology; setting up effective behavioral contingencies; and…

This position paper of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) endorses the elimination of corporal punishment in all environments for children, and notes international initiatives banning corporal punishment. The paper states that corporal punishment is an ineffective discipline strategy with children, and provides detailed…

Suggests that modern civilization isolates teens from real life and creates constraints that can result in psychosocial disorders. Explains that conflict in adolescence is caused by a mismatch between genetically programmed desires and culturally programmed opportunities. Outlines remedial actions that are necessary to make teenagers' lives…

Describes a typology of change drawn from conceptualizing conflict as cognitive or affective, and organizational formalization in terms of enabling or coercive procedures. The framework can predict the impact of change, from situations that catalyze and facilitate change to those that frustrate and inhibit it. Summarizes key factors for school…

NextGens making the jump into management, or those lucky (or foolhardy!) enough to do so right out of school, often find that the challenge of managing established staff takes some of the momentum out of the ability to effect change. Some older librarians find it hard enough to believe that NextGens are their peers; they simply shut down when…

Disagreements and conflicts in families with disruptive children often reflect rigid patterns of behavior that have become overlearned and automatized with repeated practice. These patterns are mindless: They are performed with little or no awareness and are highly resistant to change. This article introduces a new, mindfulness-based model of…