Award www.EDUCATIONUPDATE.com Volume VIII, No. 2 • New York City • OCTOBER 2002 Winner FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS & STUDENTS JOSHUA BELL Virtuoso Educator U.S. POSTAGE PAID U.S. POSTAGE VOORHEES, NJ Permit No.500 PRSRT STD. 2 Award EDUCATION UPDATE ■ FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS & STUDENTS ■ OCTOBER 2002 Winner GUEST EDITORIAL EDUCATION UPDATE Leadership in Our Schools: The Principal Part Mailing Address: 276 5th Avenue, Suite 1005 By CHARLOTTE K. FRANK, Ph.D. dren with their studies; dealing with children place. Principal means, quite literally, taking New York, NY 10001 Over this century, countless “magic bullets” with emotional or behavioral problems; follow- the principal role of leadership on the team that email: [email protected] have been suggested for reforming our schools. ing and implementing federal rules regarding contributes to effective learning. That team www.educationupdate.com In the 1920s, a progressive movement sought to special education; and taking on such other must also include parents and members of the Tel: 212-481-5519 eliminate curricula and external standards. In roles as union negotiator, community and par- community, who, so often, are eager to help if Fax: 212-481-3919 the 1950s, we were advised that the answer was ent public relations liaison; master of play- only they were personally called upon and to create fewer, larger schools out of the many, ground rules, bus schedules and budgets; and, guided in making their specific contributions. smaller ones—yet today, we see many larger in some cases, emergency plumber. But seeing where they can help, and personally PUBLISHER AND EDITOR: schools being divided into smaller learning School leadership today is upside down. It’s enlisting that help, takes vision, and then trans- Pola Rosen, Ed.D. centers. We’ve gone through “relevance,” become 80 percent operations and 20 percent lating that vision into specifics—all of which ASSOCIATE EDITORS: “technology,” “school uniforms” and other academic leadership. That’s looking at educa- are other aspects of leadership. Heather Rosen, Adam Sugerman, concepts du jour that, by themselves—so peo- tion through the wrong end of the telescope. The challenge of instructional leadership is Rob Wertheimer ple thought—would have the power to revolu- Unfortunately, our current school environment exciting and psychologically rewarding— tionize education and transform our schools. dictates it—and too many principals and school which is why so many dedicated men and ASSISTANT EDITOR: All have been important ideas; all have con- superintendents have been trained to fit that women want to choose it as a profession. The Marie Holmes tributed, in their own special way, to improving mold. This is particularly distressing given our reality of the role, however—particularly in GUEST COLUMNISTS: education. But none has focused on a crucial nation’s recent “No Child Left Behind” legisla- terms of workload, stress and pay—turns out Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Matilda element in school reform: leadership. It seems tion. If our goal is academic excellence for all too often to be another matter. As a result, sur- Raffa Cuomo, Charlotte K. Frank, an obvious concept. Leadership is vital in all our children, then our educational leaders have veys show, many teachers are reluctant to train Ph.D., Dr. Carole G. Hankin, Kitty areas of our society: government, business, the responsibility—and must be given the tools to become principals. As today’s principals Carlisle Hart, Sharon Jeffus, Brendan leading a baseball team, conducting a sympho- and training—to carry out that mandate. retire, and as the need for school administrators Kiley, Martha McCarthy, Ph.D., ny. The study of leadership has grown as an The term principal, as you may know, is grows (the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has Jonathan Mooney, Janet Perna, Dean academic discipline, through the work of such shortened from the original concept of the posi- projected an increase in that need of 10 to 20 Alfred Posamentier, Dean Jerrold Ross, individuals as John P. Kotter, Henry Mintzberg, tion as principal teacher. It’s the principal’s percent through 2005), our nation’s educational Randi T. Sachs, Assemblyman Steven Rosabeth Moss Kanter and others. But the prin- role to be a school’s instructional leader. That system faces trouble. Thankfully there are Sanders ciples of leadership have not been suitably role, in turn, encompasses many elements—for foundations such as The Eli Broad and adapted to our schools. While effective class- example, working in collaboration with teach- Wallace-Readers Digest Funds that are very STAFF WRITERS: rooms require the leadership of the teacher, ers in establishing the educational climate for actively involved in providing better prepara- Jacob Appel, Joan Baum, Ph.D., effective schools require the leadership of the the entire school building; disaggregating data tion for supervisors. City and State systems Kim Brown, Tom Kertes, principal. so that they know what is happening in each have to design a systemic approach to solving Katarzyna Kozanecka, Mitchell Levine, Indeed, our principals are eager and willing and every classroom; assessing existing and this problem. This would include requiring Sybil Maimin, Merri Rosenberg, Chris to take that responsibility. But what has the proposed teaching tools to determine which are graduate schools of education to play a more Rowan, Andrew Schiff, actual job of the school principal become succeeding, which are not, and which are not meaningful role in their preparation of supervi- Neil Schuldiner, Deborah Young today? Readers of Education Week may recall a likely to; working with the teaching staff day in sors. One idea I’d like to see implemented is BOOK REVIEWERS: recent article in which several principals dis- and day out—supporting and encouraging “building a bench” within a district—similar in Harris Healy, III, Lillian Shapiro, cussed their duties. These include building the those individuals who really care, and helping concept to building a bench on a football or Selene Vasquez staff—and frequently running baby-sitting to strengthen the skills of those who desperate- baseball team. In this concept, teachers and facilities for them; conducting adult literacy ly need assistance. The job, overall, is ensuring COMICS: continued on page 42 programs so parents can better help their chil- that the necessary environment and tools are in Francis H. Brummer, Bruce Wotring MEDICAL EDITOR: LETTERS IN THIS ISSUE Herman Rosen, M.D. To the Editor: spinal cord compressed. I would like to know if MODERN LANGUAGE EDITOR: Editorials & Letters . 2 Adam Sugerman I think the article, “Dean Deborah Shanley: any treatment can be done for her so she can get Spotlight on Schools . 3-15 Brooklyn College School of Education” (Sept. better or if you work with some kind of medicine Careers . 16 MOVIE & THEATER REVIEWS: 2002) tells a lot about the school that I didn’t that helps regenerate the spinal cord or that helps Jan Aaron Colleges & Grad Schools. 17-19, 21 know. I would like to know, compared to other the swelling go down faster. Is there anything MEDICAL UPDATE. 20 MUSIC EDITOR: colleges, where this school stands in rank. Can I you can do for us. Please help me solve this. We Irving M. Spitz get a degree higher than a master’s after gradu- are 19 years old and the accident was in May. College Directory . 21 ating from the Brooklyn College School of Daniela Martinez Classifieds . 21 POLITICAL COMMENTARY: Education? e-mail Cover Story . 22-23 Stuart Dunn Music, Art & Dance . 24-26 Irina Begun, e-mail [This was forwarded to Dr. Black. Ed.] SPORTS EDITOR: Museums As Educators . 27 M.C. Cohen To the Editor: To the Editor: Special Education. 27-29 I loved the way you so eloquently and accu- What special arts programs are there for deaf Children’s Corner . 30 WEB DESIGN: rately wrote about me and put it all together. or hard of hearing children? [at the Everett Books . 31 Neil Schuldiner, Rick Sulz, [“Deaf Teacher” September 2002.] Children’s Adventure Garden, Education Film & Theater Reviews . 32 Tamara Wiesen Linda Bodner Update, Sept. 2002] MetroBeat . 33 ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: Thousand Oaks, CA Nicki, e-mail Tutors . 33 Martin Lieberman, Manager. Rosalyn Technology & Software . 34-36 Bacani, Steve Bailey (212) 721-9444, To the Editor: Look for a new column soon by Dr. Pola Cartoon . 36 Dawn Clayton, Mitchell Levine, Chris Rosen, answering the vast number of In response to “Talking with Pioneer Dr. Ira Homeschooling. 37-41 Rowan, Andrew Schiff questions in special education that have been Black,” [Education Update, July 2002] my twin Resource & Reference . 43 sister has had a car accident and she had her flowing into Education Update. GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Neil Schuldiner, Rick Sulz, Tamara Wiesen TO Education Update Education Update is published monthly by Education Update, Inc. All material is copyrighted and may not be printed FROM Winner without express consent of the publisher. Silver Hill Hospital of the POSTMASTER: Best Send address changes to: Mental Health Excellence in Education Education Update Media Award Journalism, 1999—2000 Business P.O. Box 20005 2000 Columbia University NY, NY 10001 Teachers College, Phi Delta Kappa Subscription: Annual $30. Dr. Pola Rosen Award Copyright © 2002 Education Update OCTOBER 2002 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ SPOTLIGHT ON SCHOOLS SCHOOL 3 The Transforming Power of Music and Art CITY COLLEGE: PAST AND FUTURE By MATILDA RAFFA CUOMO concepts combined with books about multi- By ALFRED S. POSAMENTIER, Ph.D. sity. It is not guaranteed and can be very costly. Since 1995, as an after- cultural awareness and conflict resolution High tuition costs do not guarantee a superi- At the College, one of the first institutions of school mentoring program, activities to help strengthen children’s connec- or college education. The City University of public higher education in the country, “access Mentoring USA has supple- tions to their own heritage and develop respect New York (CUNY) is still the biggest bargain and excellence” has been the principle that mented the classroom activi- for other cultures.