The ideal of standards and the reality of schools: Needed research

Abstract: Research potentially can assist in the process of implementing the National Science Education Standards. Existing research shows that changes called for in the Standards are difficult to put into practice, create dilemmas for teachers, require significant changes in teachers' values and beliefs, are fostered when change is pursued within departments within schools, are influenced powerfully by teacher collaboration in the work context, are often resisted strongly by parents, and often demand new student roles and different student work. The results of research on reform do not give a definitive picture of the most productive roles for students, the nature of the desired student work, how teachers can best be engaged in reassessing values and beliefs and taking responsibility for acquiring new professional competencies, how to realize “science for all,” and the most effective ways of involving parents. Research is needed which will: (1) be approached from multiple perspectives, (2) be conducted in the “real world,” (3) focus on interventions into conventional school practice, (4) not assume change can be driven from the top down, (5) be interpretive in nature, (6) focus on student roles and student work, (7) give major attention to teacher learning, (8) attend to parents' concerns, and (9) be approached systemically. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 38: 3–16, 2001     

Managerial Implications of Cultural Factors That Influence the Success of TQM Programs in Mexican Maquiladoras

Maquiladoras, border factories and assembly operations in Mexico, are an important source of foreign direct investment and jobs. In the past decade, there has been rapid growth in the number of maquiladoras. It is estimated that in 1999 there were 3,219 maquiladoras employing over 1 million workers. Along with this growth, there has been a structural transformation of the industry. As a result of major investments in the automobile and electronics sectors, there has been a shift from low‐wage manufacturing towards total quality manufacturing [TQM], including flexible manufacturing and just‐in‐time inventory systems. Since their inception maquiladoras have suffered from high turnover and absenteeism. These two problems serve as major obstacles to the successful implementation of TQM programs and increase the cost of recruitment and training. This paper surveys the literature and presents a theory that relates the success of TQM programs to cross‐cultural management. Our hypothesis is that strategic quality initiatives like TQM work best when they incorporate top leadership involvement and worker‐focused human resources policies integrated to provide both salary and non‐salary benefits that increase worker satisfaction. We hold that effective cross‐cultural management based upon top leadership involvement responds to deep‐seated cultural needs by constructing approximations of traditional elements of Mexican culture. Therefore, incorporating and respecting traditional culture and the worker's need for community will positively influence worker acceptance of TQM programs and reduce turnover.     

The effectiveness of peer mediation in a low‐SES rural elementary school

Thirty 6th‐8th‐grade students were trained to serve as mediators for peers in conflict. Student mediators were taught conflict resolution and mediation techniques from the Conflict Resolution Unlimited (1995) manual. Mediation was available to students school‐wide (N = 798); disputants were given the option to go to mediation or to the principal for resolutions. Mediators' responses to written tests indicated increased knowledge of mediation skills after training, which was maintained at 6‐week follow‐up. During the 6 weeks following training, 32 of 34 mediations resulted in satisfactory conflict resolution. School‐wide suspensions decreased during the intervention year, as compared to 3 years of baseline data. In addition, mediators' own office referrals were lower than a randomly selected matched control group. Further, mediators' current referrals were lower than in the previous year, while there was no such change for the control group. Results and process variables of the implementation are discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.