In 1989, Chicago began an experiment with radical decentralization of power and authority. This book tells the story of what happened to Chicago's elementary schools in the first four years of this reform. Implicit in this reform is the theory that expanded local democratic participation would stimulate organizational change within schools, which in turn would foster improved teaching and learning. Using this theory as a framework, the authors marshal massive quantitative and qualitative data to examine how the reform actually unfolded at the school level.With longitudinal case study data on 22 schools, survey responses from principals and teachers in 269 schools, and supplementary system-wide administrative data, the authors identify four types of school politics: strong democracy, consolidated principal power, maintenance, and adversarial. In addition, they classify school change efforts as either systemic or unfocused. Bringing these strands together, the authors determine that, in about a third of the schools, expanded local democratic participation served as a strong lever for introducing systemic change focused on improved instruction. Finally, case studies of six actively restructuring schools illustrate how under decentralization the principal's role is recast, social support for change can grow, and ideas and information from external sources are brought to bear on school change initiatives. Few studies intertwine so completely extensive narratives and rigorous quantitative analyses. The result is a complex picture of the Chicago reform that joins the politics of local control to school change.This volume is intended for scholars in the fields of urban education, public policy, sociology of education, anthropology of education, and politics of education. Comprehensive and descriptive, it is an engaging text for graduate students and upper-level undergraduates. Local, state, and federal policymakers who are concerned with urban education will find new and insightful material. The book should be on reading lists and in professional development seminars for school principals who want to garner community support for change and for school community leaders who want more responsive local institutions. Finally, educators, administrators, and activists in Chicago will appreciate this detailed analysis of the early years of reform.

What would we do without Anthony Sampson! Here is another Sampson book that carefully analyses an important part of western business culture to show us what it's really all about. Sampson always impresses with his grasp of the issues, but what I like most is his humanity. He is keen to show exactly what the changing business culture has done to the people in it, and who the winners and losers are. Sampson is not just another corporate booster, and combines the rigour of an academic with the narrative skills of a professional writer. All in all, this is a balanced book and a good read from one of our most insightful writers on business issues.

As a student of Shakespeare I bought this book to help me understand the connection between Oldcastle and Falstaff. Rittenhouse quotes Holinshed's CHRONICLES and Foxe's ACTS AND MONUMENTS for the historical Lollard who died a martyr's death under Henry V. He gives us the entire play (1 SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE)written in 1599 by four authors who borrowed heavily from Shakespeare. 2 SIR JOHN OLDCASTLE, wherein the bishops insist on his death, was suppressed as too hot a topic in the aftermath of the execution of Essex.

Oldcastle in the play is shown as loyal to Henry V and esteemed by many people of both high and low degree. A follower of Wycliff, he stood for removing the abuses of the Church. Those who benefited from the abuses, the bishops, wanted Henry V to see Oldcastle as disloyal to the crown.

For my purposes in comparing Oldcastle to Falstaff, the book was useful but I need to read about Wycliff and John Florio to complete the picture.

It was originally a doctoral dissertation.

Inspector Morse is just one of those detectives that are as highly rated as Hercule Poirot. Morse loves classical music and books and he times himself when when he does the London TImes Crossword. Sergent Lewis is just like Cpt. Hastings in the Hercule Poirot series. I suggest any Inspector Morse books and any Hercule Poirot ones as well.

It is an exceptional and very rare scholarly work of incredible science that tries to avoid human biases that can easily creep into the evaluation of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and other therapies. As other good reviewers have said this book is very
comprehensive and written for the advanced reader but it is a MUST for ALL and should be mandatory reading for any
progressive school or person. The book discusses several human brain conditions from anxiety all to way to schizophrenia and
discusses their definition, diagnosis, origins, prevalence, reasons for existing, etc.... What I specifically noted about this book, apart from all the good that has been written, is its attempt to remove, as much as possible, human biases in the science of psychology and psychiatry and to just state "Just the facts mam". They even admit to the pitfalls of the traditional fields of psychology and psychiatry (e.g. psychoanalysis). A MUST for those wanting to move on beyond the traditional psychobable
and self-help; towards real science.

An extremely interesting book detailing evolutionary human behavior. Covers a very wide range from the history of evolutionary
thinking to the latest views. Includes: kin selection, friendship, family, group, and tribal behavioral dynamics as viewed from an
evolutionary point of view.

For further reading:
The Moral Animal : The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology by Robert Wright
Charles Darwin by John Bowlby
Darwinian Psychiatry by Michael T. McGuire, Alfonso Troisi

This book is the best introduction to the development of Frege's thought that I've read. Kenny covers each major work of Frege in detail with clear explanations of the argument and purpose of each work. There is a brief biographical sketch in the beginning and the book finishes with a summary of Frege's achievements.

The Guards This books has some the best photography of the Guards both Calvary and Foot. Some great anecdotes on life as a member of the finest fighting force and traditions of the British Army. Also humor and the antics Guardsman have got up to during Ceremonial Duties. Such as the Guardsman who put an alarm clock in his bearskin, set to go off at the exact time Her Majesty was to ride by during the inspection part Birthday Parade or Tropping the Colour. There are stories and pictures of the Guards on duty in Northern Ireland, Belize and West Germany. This dispells the story that the Guards are just Toy Soldiers. A great book and truely beautifully photographed.

This book, in fact this whole series, has been excellent from the start. The amount of information provided is a little slim -- there are no crystal drawings, no forms listed, and no atomic arrangement information -- but all needed physical properties are given.

Just buy the whole series and you will not be disappointed.

Provence is known throughout the culinary world as a stronghold. Often, one is called upon in a recipe for "herbes de provence." This is a combo of seven of the herbes used in this region:bay, fennel, marjoram, rosemary, sage, thyme, and savory.

Here, seven of their top chefs take one of the herbes and create a burst of recipes featuring that herb.

Feast your eyes and tastebuds on such as: Pears and Strawberries roasted with thyme honey, Confit of Rabbit shoulder in olvie oil and blinis with bay and eggplant compote, Braised Mediterranean bass with lemon and sage, River Trout en papillote with fennel and white wine, Thin Tuna tart with marjoram vinagirette, Apple Confit with savory,vanilla ice cream.

This is not for the faint not ready to find the ingredients and try out the techniques. For those who do, the results are superb, intense and fresh with herbes! Bon Appetit!

This is a fine, detailed book explaining how to plan and build an indoor climbing wall. The book is organized and methodical in it's presentation and includes every aspect of the planning. Chapters include:

1. Why and where to build a home gym

2. Planning your climbing features and gym

3. Budget and materials

4. Framing and Building

5. Insets, features and textures

6. Crash pads and flooring

7. Handholds and footholds

8. Hold installations, routesetting, and wall maintenance

9. Training

10. Legal and insurance issues

This book has a huge amount of "no-nonsense" information for one small volume. A good investment for anyone interested in building a climbing wall.