Analyzes Charles Darwin's letters to his family during his voyage on H.M.S. Beagle. Relates the information to the development of Darwin's professional identity and the degree to which the concepts, field methods, and research methods revealed in Darwin's personal correspondence are useful to students of educational administration. (MD)

Outlines the development and use of the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ-RS) developed for use in secondary schools by Rutgers University. It is a 34-item climate instrument that measures two aspects of principal leadership and five aspects of school interaction. Includes 4 tables. (MD)

Reviews aspects of the role of the local school district superintendency that are puzzling. Looks at: demographic consistency, patterns of professional preparation, the superintendent's impact, and the politics of the superintendency. Calls for additional research into this important administrative position. (MD)

Argues against the current trends in giving importance to subjective values in educational administration, particularly the argument that attention to subjective values can overcome the perceived irrelevance of scientific administration and organization theory and help administrators make better decisions. (MD)

This study examined the relationship among principals' behavior in administering regulations, their hierarchical influence, and teacher loyalty to principals. A significant relationship was found between rule behavior of secondary principals and teacher loyalty, and hierarchical influence was significantly related to teacher loyalty for both…

The impact of decentralization and devolution and its implications for principals in the state of Victoria (Australia) were investigated. Interview data documenting implementation problems and the effects of these reforms on the influence of principals and the future of the principalship in Victoria are presented. (MD)

Describes findings from a study of 20 school superintendents, their background characteristics, and the elements in organizational structures around them related to their success in becoming superintendents. The purpose was to determine predictors of access to superintendency, particularly access for women. Some data reveal that discriminatory…

Reviews a Minnesota study of tax concessions to private school parents and provides an analysis of the strategy of constituency mobilization. The Minnesota experience shows that a mobilized, powerful issue constituency can enforce political accountability on the bargaining process and influence educational policy. Such single issue linkages…

Research on effective schools is limited by the same weaknesses that hamper research on effective organizations. Examining two competing frameworks for studying organizational effectiveness, this report proposes a general model of school effectiveness. The model was enacted and studied in one school and was found to be effective. Includes two…