The role of the teacher is critical in achieving educational excellence. Teacher salaries must be raised. If educational problems are to be resolved, parents must become partners in the educational process. Students must be willing to work harder, teachers must change attitudes, and administrators and teachers must work together. (RM)

This article offers a brief historical analysis of corporate involvement in public schools and discusses still unresolved issues in the current passion for increasing private-sector participation in public schools. The business community's role and the importance of educators striking a balance between external and internal interests are also…

Examples of innovative applications of telecommunications are cited, and the importance of school administrators' acquiring computer literacy emphasized. What educational leaders should know about telecommunications and the computer age is outlined. (MJL)

Drawing on literature concerning department chairs' role as either administrators (line personnel) or teachers (staff personnel), this essay concludes that both roles are important and that well-developed human relations skills and managerial skills are equally necessary. (MJL)

Noting that careful selection of assemblies can result in meaningful programs functioning as supplements to classroom learning and bridges to the community, this article describes one principal's assembly planning considerations and procedures. (MJL)

Explains control techniques used to limit the freedom of the scholastic press. (CRH)

By focusing school schedules on teacher-directed instruction in reading and mathematics and developing a parallel-block master schedule, more efficient use can be made of classroom time without large expenditures of money or time for staff development. (DCS)

Data collected from 944 teachers in 46 elementary schools revealed that principal authenticity was significantly correlated with teachers' trust in principals, colleagues, and organizations. In addition, all these dimensions of trust were moderately and significantly correlated with each other. (MLF)

Research administrators can avoid falling into bureaucratic traps by (1) understanding what is important and what is subordinate to it; (2) becoming a better manager; and (3) improving public relations by being more accessible, soliciting complaints, consulting, supporting clients, making the rules work for clients, and educating clients.

A recently released National Institute of Education publication about the state of U.S. undergraduate education that gives 27 suggestions for their improvement is summarized and discussed. A number of criticisms are offered, including lack of documentation. (MSE)

A positive school climate, good school discipline, effective teaching, and good community relations can all be furthered with the development of adequate communication among administrators, teachers, parents, and students, but the administrators must accept a leadership role in the process. (PGD)

The authors studied 50 organizations to find which have the most successful career development programs and why. The results are codified into 12 principles, including stay specific, tailor program to culture, build from a conceptual base, formalize, design multiple approaches, co-design and manage the project, ensure top management support, and…

The president of The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching applauds the push for educational excellence but believes local school personnel are too rarely considered in the reform process. He suggests ways of granting teachers and principals the support and recognition they need to participate effectively in educational improvement.…

Details a five-step approach for making the first-year principal successful: prearrival information gathering, sizing up, positioning, polarizing, and accepting. (MD)

Argues that the participatory leadership model is especially effective at the middle school level because the team concept is vital to the middle school construct. Asserts that principals who use such a model can truly become instructional leaders. (FL)