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)

Describes an alternative model for student-principal interaction that resulted in fewer discipline referrals. The model encourages more communication between the principal and students and focuses on building a positive relationship between adults and adolescents. (MD)

Ethical leadership is the moral component of instructional leadership. Ethical guidelines for principals include respect for all members of society, tolerance for divergent opinions and cultures, equality of persons, and equal distribution of resources. Specific guidelines are provided to help principals exercise effective ethical leadership.…

Accelerating social and economic changes have contributed to a widespread sense of alienation affecting the school and its functions, goals, and activities. To reduce unacceptable alienation levels, the school must clarify its own mission, understand the relationship between social and academic issues, define its responsibility, and encourage…

Teachers often cite stress as a reason for leaving the teaching profession. Stress does not have to be a negative factor. Discusses ways that principals can use their leadership skills to make stress a positive force. Includes five references. (Author/MD)

Suggests a system for classifying problems to help educators identify their problems and understand their complexity. Presents the Problem-Identification Matrix, which helps clarify the cause-and-effect relationship that exists in any problematic situation. (WD)

Most teachers have a clearly articulated set of standards and expectations governing student classroom behavior. Teachers, too, should adhere to a code of ethics governing their responsibility for teaching exciting and effective classes, treating all students fairly, working with parents, growing professionally, encouraging student participation,…

Assistant principals are a neglected variable in the effective schools equation. The traditional conceptualization of assistant principals as disciplinarians still prevails, despite these administrators' usefulness as change agents, motivators, ethical models, community relations agent, care givers, and innovators. (MLH)

Many principals recognize the assistant principal's role as either a career commitment or a step on the administrative career ladder. A strong mentoring relationship enables the principal to facilitate the assistant principal's maturation and professional development through initiation, collaboration, inclusiveness, coaching, reciprocation,…

First of seven articles in this "NASSP" issue explores principals' reflections on the meaning of democracy in their schools. The renewal of democracy is each generation's primary task. Principals play a critical role by leading faculty and students in rediscovering democracy's meaning. Schools should be inclusive communities concerned with…

A leadership workshop/retreat at an urban Illinois high school brought African-American and white student leaders together to begin working toward cross-cultural understanding while moving away from separatism. The morning program focused on four steps: recognizing other world views, understanding basic data, identifying cultural conflict areas,…

The training of school principals must be motivated by a desire to serve U.S. society. University preparation programs are ethically bound to act as a gatekeeper for school districts; focus on principal quality, and examine the motive, means; and product to ensure high program standards. (four references) (MLH)

Schools as ethical, democratic communities are places where justice prevails, equity is cherished, integrity is a driving force in all relationships, full participation is an expectation, inclusion is a norm, resources are distributed equally, and members are allowed recourse to address grievances. Schools must teach democracy and ethics with…