According to national statistics on death rates, criminal behavior, and other indicators, the well-being of White adolescents has declined markedly between 1960 and 1980, despite certain improvements in families, schools, and youth programs. American culture seems geared to a selfish individualism inconsistent with maintaining strong families and…

Understanding how others perceive our words and make sense of them is the mark of an expert communicator. Psychological type theory provides a lens through which administrators can see things from another's viewpoint and choose their words accordingly. Includes four references. (MLH)

Based on a literature review, class observations, and interviews with teachers and students, this article offers a conception of higher order thinking (as signifying challenge and expanded use of the mind), discusses reasons for the difficulty of promoting it in high schools, and suggests ways principals can help. (MLH)

Instead of resisting the expansion of parental choice, school authorities should be able to identify school differences and to disseminate information about these differences to parents. This article summarizes some beneficial consequences of promoting choice and some concerns regarding educational opportunity. (MLH)

For schools, teachers, and principals, there is no censorship insurance--especially against attacks directed at learning techniques involved with problem solving and higher order thinking skills. Pincipals faced with disputes must work for consensus before, during, and after a controversy and mitigate self-righteousness and arrogance on either…

Programs for gifted students are in great demand in secondary schools. An administrator can easily supervise the development of such a program by starting small, using existing resources, avoiding "ousidersism" and perfectionism, developing a working definition of giftedness, developing a sensible identification procedure, and publicizing the…

Facility planning and curriculum design, key ingredients of effective schooling, should complement one another. The open-classroom concept failed because of poor coordination between facility design and instructional practice. Aesthetic qualities of learning environments express certain values and affect teacher energy and student creativity.…

Large schools have a tall organizational structure with long chains of command and limited control for "low-level" staff, including teachers and principals. To resolve this problem, two alternative structures are suggested: a dual structure involving spheres of administrative and professional responsibility and a flat structure featuring short…

Research suggests that current methods of obtaining and training substitute teachers benefit neither substitutes nor students. A staff development program that is continuous, addresses substitute teachers' expressed needs, creates lines of communication, and provides continuously accessible resources is needed. Includes three references. (MLH)

Regardless of their vocabulary knowledge and usage, secondary school students must learn how to read from subject area texts. Teachers must see that teaching students how to extract meaning from printed media is an integral part of good teaching at any level and in every subject field. The literature indicates very few implementation strategies.…

The statement that "every teacher is a teacher of reading" is an ineffective cliche. However, cooperation among secondary school content and reading teachers can be achieved through establishing schoolwide reading teams, offering services and inservice education for content teachers, pairing reading and content teachers, publishing newsletters,…

Examines the dynamics of conflict and anger expressed by irate parents and offers principals a simple, effective method to resolve conflict and reduce anger in an integrative way. Well-managed conflict helps improve interpersonal relationships, promote healthy interaction, and develop creative, synergistic solutions to undesirable situations. (MLH)

Schools can initiate cooperative relationships with community agencies and help them develop programs to meet student needs. To help administrators assess the helping potential of various agencies, this article offers guidelines for considering agency staff, accreditation, references, professional and ethical stndards, insurance coverage,…

Given that schools are essential for economic development in most geographical areas, school systems must develop effective community relationships and learn how to market their "product" by using five basic advertising concepts: primacy of product, uniqueness, identification, timeliness, and price. (MLH)

The current educational format emphasizes learning for grades, for future reward, or to avoid punishment. To promote learning for its own sake and a better understanding of society, secondary schools need to become dynamic learning and living centers where all students, teachers, and administrators are engaged cooperatively in integrated, active…