Describes the Potential National Merit Scholars program at Jacksonville (Florida) Schools, an effort to identify exceptionally talented students and schedule them into advanced mathematics and language arts clases in the eighth grade. They may also attend special summer sessions and the superintendent's 100 superscholars program. (MLH)

Outlines nine tasks comprising the most significant leadership functions, including envisioning goals, affirming values, motivating others, managing, achieving workable unity, explaining and teaching, serving as a symbol, representing the group, and renewing the system to enhance its future. (MLH)

Since intensive preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test can positively effect scores, coaching and tutoring centers are springing up to serve mainly middle class clients. This article describes a Northeastern University (Boston) model to counter this inequity by preparing Boston innercity students for the test. (MLH)

To help educators understand similarities and differences between American and Oriental educational systems, this article outlines 22 major characteristics of Japanese and South Korean schools and compares them with U.S. practices. An important difference is Asian parents' considerable involvement and interest in their schools. (MLH)

Student murder and suicide are traumatic experiences for schools. The first article explains how a Massachusetts high school coped with the murder of a popular student by her boyfriend, a classmate. The second article examines the adolescent suicide crisis and offers prevention strategies. (MLH)

When 40 Spanish-speaking students registered for classes 5 years ago, the Sierra Junior High School staff (New Mexico) designed a language development program and created student and teacher schedules in 24 hours. This article describes curricular emphases and program progress. A new goal is to encourage both English and Spanish proficiency.…

Now that many state legislatures are increasing funding for school construction and interest rates are declining, principals need to prepare for this exciting, time-consuming development. This article outlines questions to consider before construction begins and how to manage two facilities as construction progresses. (MLH)

Being more than managers, school leaders can advance the profession by initiating a comprehensive curriculum development process that examines the future to determine needed skills and knowledge, redefines what constitutes an educated person and good teaching, creates a mission statement, and considers the need for structural or organizational…

To ensure that curriculum development staff are focusing on student needs, this article suggests a question matrix showing the holistic relationship in the planning, implementation, and outcomes processes and in five interrelated program components (curriculum design, instructional means, resources, staff development, and learning experience).…

Examines some disturbing tendencies in curriculum content and descion-making. Argues that a rigorous, neoconservative back-to-basics program, coupled with use of corporate school management models, is not the answer. Excessive standardization could increase the dropout rate and cause the deskilling of teachers. Societal influences need to be…

Examines four varieties of curriculum irrelevance, including curricula that are fixed, antiseptic, trivial, and right answer-oriented. Suggests that educators need to stress curricular context and concern themselves more with process and less with products. Includes 10 references. (MLH)

Differentiates among several conceptions of curriculum, including the formal curriculum, the teacher-created and student-influenced curriculum, and the hidden curriculum. Explores new options disclosed by recent research and raises implications and issues related to them. Includes seven references. (MLH)

A survey gauging superintendents', principals', and teachers' expectations for the principalship revealed great similarities among all three groups' perceptions of what principals should do and what principals actually accomplish. However, teachers noted principals' low regard for creative teaching, a situation impeding educational progress.…

To help educators design a balanced curriculum giving students opportunities to master knowledge and use it appropriately, this article explains curriculum design components and framework and provides advice concerning selecting the design, exploring sources, working with the committee, and developing guiding statements. Includes eight references.…

Pressure for curriculum change comes from many sources--the federal and state government and individuals at the local level. Principals are responsible for balancing these pressures to ensure curricular integrity and coherence. After reviewing various pressures, this article explores principals' options for envisioning curriculum. (MLH)