Fiedler's contingency theory relates school effectiveness to a combination of principals' leadership style and situational favorability for the principal. Data from teacher questionnaires on school climate and effectiveness and measures of principal's leadership in 176 Canadian elementary schools did not support Fiedler's model. Contains 54…

Compared to baseline scores, self-efficacy and feelings of preparedness to teach increased for student teachers after the first and second terms of a three-term revised University of British Columbia postdegree teacher education program. There were no significant differences by gender or subject specialization. Contains 53 references. (SV)

Fifteen principals in urban Canadian elementary and secondary schools described nonroutine conflicts. Most frequent strategies for managing conflict were improving the shared information base, censuring dysfunctional behaviors, and managing organizational climate, suggesting principals' ability to switch between collaboration and forcing tactics.…

Twelve articles present excerpts from several national reports of countries participating on the Second International Science Study (SISS) of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. The SISS examined science achievement and its correlates in participating countries and studied trends from 1970 through the…

Seven articles discuss a theme that was also the subject of a symposium at an Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, reform of school mathematics teaching and curriculum. These articles indicate that educational reform is a complicated endeavor and tension exists between the old and new. (SLD)

Information acquisition and processing skills of 661 Finnish vocational education students were studied through students' writings, including an open-ended test. About 20 percent were assessed as self-directed learners, but the majority could search for and transmit information in a text. Results are discussed in light of demands of further…

A general common-sense model of interactive teaching is presented, including conscious and partly or totally unconscious decision making. The model assumes that the teacher wishes to choose actions that are as appropriate as possible to the situation and goals of teaching. Knowledge and emotional variables influence the process. (SLD)

Possible developments in Finnish adult vocational education were explored through a survey of 117 adult educators. Three scenarios of future development were identified: (1) increase in provision of education; (2) rapid change by adult education institutions to meet demand; and (3) little change in environment and practice. (SLD)

A Canadian bilingual ESL program for Cambodians was taught by an experienced English-speaking ESL teacher and a Cambodian-speaking coteacher. Observations, interviews, and journal analysis showed that a bilingual monocultural format encouraged student participation and peer teaching and that second-language learning was facilitated by…

Surveys, focus-group interviews, observations, and journal writings of 11 Canadian student teachers revealed sources of stress during the teaching practicum: role clarification, expectations, conformity, time, evaluation, assignments, peer discussions, and inconsistent feedback. Student teachers identified communication, conformity, initiative,…

Student teachers and teacher advisors reported generally positive attitudes toward a yearlong Ontario on-site preservice teacher education program. In particular, 21 student teachers rated the convenience of being in one school as important, and 19 teacher advisors rated the social prestige of being involved in the innovative program as important.…

A survey of 195 elementary school principals in Alberta (Canada) examined the extent of staff collaboration in 18 curriculum development tasks. Collaboration was greater in schools with female principals regardless of principal's age, experience, or number of years in present principalship. (KS)

Among 10 school boards studied in British Columbia, those in districts with higher student achievement and lower costs were considerably more knowledgeable about district programs and practices; had a clearer sense of what they wanted to accomplish, based on firmly held values and beliefs; and engaged in activities that provided opportunities to…

George W. Kerby--minister, evangelist, and educational reformer--helped lead the Home and School movement in Canada during the 1920s and 1930s. He advocated child-centered relevant curriculum and cooperation between home and school. Kerby used ideas from both the progressive education and New Education movements but contributed to public…

Surveys of teacher unions and school administrators examined teacher sexual abuse of elementary students in Ontario (Canada) 1987-92. Results indicate that accusations, charges, and convictions were few; the acquittal rate for teachers was high; and a number of teachers were falsely accused of sexual abuse each year. Includes administrator…