Leadership and Ambiguity: When Policy,Politics, and Truth Collide

This article discusses the need for chairs to recognize the changing and interconnected nature of postmodern times by engaging with policy makers, politics, and coalitions in this age of supercomplexity. Chairing a kinesiology department is a rewarding and complex position fraught with uncertainty; nevertheless, tolerating and planning for ambiguity and conflict can lead to creative solutions and a more cohesive workgroup. This discussion is designed to make department chairs aware of the problems related to ambiguity in government and business and their impact on university policies, as well as the importance of politics and coalitions to strengthen programs so that valuable resources for the department can be obtained. Solutions are discussed to dealing with conflict and uncertainty with colleagues and constituents to strengthen the bonds of loyalty and trust by attending to human problems caused by stress and frustration.     

Coping with separation anxiety

Whether beginning nursery school, kindergarten, or first grade, many children commonly experience fear at being separated from their parents and at being in a new place for the first time for an extended period. For example, Albert lived across the street from the school where he was to attend first grade. Taken by his brothers and sisters to the school on the first day, Albert was left in a room with a teacher and forty-five other children.Betty Lou Land is an Associate Professor of Reading at Winthrop College and Terry Norton is an Instructor of Reading.     

Putting Students at the Centre in Education Reform

Education reform cannot succeed and should not proceedwithout much more direct involvement of students inall its aspects. This paper develops a set ofarguments for a sustained and meaningful role forstudents in defining, shaping, managing andimplementing reform, and outlines some ways in whichsuch involvement might occur. The arguments are bothorganizational and educational in nature, as are theproposed strategies for increasing the student role inthe reform and improvement process.