School administrators should realize that independent reading is an important and integral part of the language arts program, that it takes into consideration important skills and strategies, and that it requires risk-taking in a supportive environment. Principals can provide such support by working cooperatively with teachers during every phase…

Tactics to deal with growing violence in schools have usually relied on removal of the offender by suspension or placement outside of the mainstream classroom. However, educators and psychologists are considering the prevention of violent behavior as both a more humane and cost-effective response to the problem. The relationship between school…

Findings of a study that examined the roles of business representatives and business educators in establishing collaborative relationships in the 1990s, as perceived by selected secondary and postsecondary business instructors in Illinois, are presented in this paper. An expert panel of 25 secondary and postsecondary instructors participated in…

Five key issues can serve to summarize the complexity of the restructuring process and some of the challenges being faced: (1) developing a vision that unites projects; (2) identifying outcomes that will be assessed; (3) obtaining the active support of the community; (4) redefining the role of principals from power-wielders to facilitators; and…

While there is much disagreement about how to go about reforming schools, one point of agreement is that leadership is critical to this process. Unfortunately, the discussion of leadership has not been sufficiently informed by the voices of those who have been directly involved in reforming old schools and creating new ones. This paper describes…

This document describes the principal's role in supervising a teacher mentoring program. It provides tips for guiding mentors and describes the characteristics of a good mentor. For example, mentors working with a novice should focus on three areas--the classroom, emotional support, and practical applications. Three styles of mentoring include…

The 1980s produced numerous reports regarding the principal's increased responsibility and critical role in both school effectiveness and school improvement. As the principal's responsibility has increased, so has pressure on school boards and superintendents to make appropriate appointments when principal vacancies occur. This paper seeks a…

Decision making is a major characteristic of leadership. The role of the principal in Australia has been affected by changes in education including decentralization of responsibility, increased accountability, restructuring of schools, local selection of school principals, and changed decision-making responsibilities. In this process of change,…

Findings from a study that examined the ways in which secondary-school administrators deal with student misconduct are presented in this paper. A secondary focus is the effect of school size and community type on administrators' perceptions and actions. A survey mailed to 100 middle and 100 secondary-school administrators from 302 Indiana school…

This report on a symposium is comprised of four short papers on the Beginning Principals Study in Victoria, Australia. The first paper (by Jenny Baker) chronicles the struggles of a beginning principal at a small suburban school. The government school is in a high socioeconomic area and is close to several prestigious private schools. Enrollment…

Findings of a study that identified critical skills for the novice principal are presented in this paper. Two theoretical frameworks are used to view the issue of principal effectiveness--a taxonomy of necessary skills and socialization. Surveys of 1,125 novice principals and 435 superintendents in California produced 450 and 208 responses,…

This paper identifies four models of educational administration--the rational, mechanistic, organic, and bargaining models--and argues that a fifth model of leadership--a caring model--is needed. The ethic of caring (Nodding, 1986) is reciprocal, natural, and ethical and emphasizes connection, responsibilities, and relationships. Creating a model…

This biography reviews the life of Robert Maynard Hutchins, a leader in higher education in the 20th century, by a long-time friend and colleague. The biography first follows Hutchins' story from his origins as a preacher's son in rural Ohio to Oberlin College, through early success at the Yale Law school where he reformed legal education and…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined how the internship experience serves as a rite of passage for the teacher making the transition to aspiring principal. The experiences of 54 participants in an administrator internship program at Bank Street College of Education in New York City were analyzed. Data were derived from analysis of…

This book explores the new roles required of principals of dynamic schools. The first chapter examines the following forces that shape principals' activities: teachers are becoming teacher-leaders; parents are more vocal and action-oriented advocates; student bodies are more diverse; the social and technological contexts of schools are more…