This precis focuses on research into the problem of school discipline. The school culture, or the atmosphere and tone of everything that happens in the school, is seen as having a significant influence on student behavior. Several examples of improving the culture of schools are given. Strategies for correcting misconduct are suggested, with…

This paper applies the strategic planning process to the task of school renewal and improvement. After outlining the basic elements of stratgic planning (planning-to-plan phase, research, writing a mission statement, forecasting, contingency planning, and development of the strategic plan), the paper focuses on using this model to restructure…

This monograph proposes that sex equity should be infused and integrated into all aspects of the vocational curriculum until equity is accepted as an integral component of the educational process. It suggests that the leadership will come from vocational supervisors, vocational teachers, the Board of Education, state department staff, and officers…

Action Research begins by identifying goals as perceived in the community; input is sought in neighborhood hearings or by running a series in the local newspaper and inviting response. Once a research group is organized, Action Research continues as a five-stage flexible study plan for practitioner improvement involving turning goals into…

The major types of U.S. federal, state, and local taxes are explored, and the impact of those taxes on all types of women--rich and poor, old and young, employed and not employed, parent and non-parent--are examined. Specifically discussed are the social security tax; the federal income tax system, including the marriage tax, the earned income…

Perspectives on facilitating the use of quantitative tools in higher education decision-making are offered. Suggestions are directed to those in the institution who will be working with decision-makers, with a focus on how such individuals can assist the decision-maker in the development and use of computer-based tools. The instigators of computer…

The paper presents a framework intended to help in the adoption of new early childhood special education model programs. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) is explained to describe how individuals undergo the change process. The diagnostic component of CBAM is described in terms of three dimensions: (1) stages of concern (the feelings of…

The guide presents six papers designed to help people become effective advocates for gifted and talented children. In "Effective Advocacy: Understanding the Process and Avoiding the Pitfalls," P. Mitchell considers such obstacles as using an adversarial rather than a persuasive approach and being impatient. She charts a procedure for more…

This 3-month pilot study explores the techniques to be used in a year-long research effort for documenting the interventions made by principals as change facilitators in improvement programs. Two frameworks--a taxonomy and an anatomy of intervention--provide a means of describing and analyzing the interventions of the two principals studied. The…

An examination of problems inherent to class size concepts suggests possible arrangements, given limited resources, for providing optimal classroom environments. Among the problems in determining class size are ambiguous definitions, measurement problems, and contradictory research findings. Traditional definitions of class size ignore such…

A hypothetical account of the demise of the community college in the United States by the year 2000 is provided in this paper, along with suggestions for ways community colleges can avoid this fate. First, the reasons for the demise are presented, including the rise of vocational institutes, which took over the vocational education function of…

This paper briefly describes a model for broadening community educators' participation in economic development by improving the quality of developmental knowledge and leadership. Specific goals of the model include helping economic development leaders to understand existing community attitudes and structure, and helping leaders form development…

Language planning is official, government-level activity concerning the selection and promotion of a unified administrative language or languages. Language planning initiatives arise in response to sociopolitical needs and attempt to meet those needs by reducing linguistic diversity. Several stages occur in the language planning process. The first…

A study explored rhetorical strategies and dynamics within a single speech delivered by Frederick Douglass on July 5, l852 in Rochester, New York, which was considered by speaker and audience to be an Independence Day speech. An examination of the text suggests that Douglass embarked on a strategy of attention-shifting--turning the attention of…

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the reasons for resistance to evaluation and the factors that affect adoption of new procedures, while focusing on a model for guiding the planning of evaluation implementation strategies. The process of adoption of an innovation occurs in three stages: orientation, where the user identifies benefits;…