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The Association of School Business Officials could be a moral and persuasive force to help close performance gaps in several key areas of public education, including school finance, educational accountability, and management by objectives. Although school finance inequity is the most pressing educational problem in most States, only 18 States have so far enacted new approaches to school finance. No school official should tolerate the injustice of inadequate or nonexistent school finance formulas. Accompanying the need for financial equality is the need for better accountability in education. Accountability should be a two-way process that serves students and solves problems, not just a way to place blame. Accountability should be a negotiated agreement between participants that specifies the rewards and costs that will accrue as a result of an evaluation of the attainment of specified goals. School management by objectives is a means of attaining performance accountability that is gaining interest in some larger school districts. A basic management by objectives program for a school district involves participation by both central office staff and personnel at the individual schools and establishes the definite objectives and division of responsibility that are crucial to any accountability effort. (Author/JG)

The author discusses the need for a more disciplined society through more disciplined education. Discipline and moral values in education are the keys to responsible citizenship, which is disappearing in the United States today. Without abandoning compassion and special attention to minorities, a nationwide commitment to high standards and academic vigor is needed on all levels of education. Studies point out the declining standards in education and the emphasis on students' rights to the exclusion of students' responsibilities. Many of the discipline problems in schools today are probably a response to student boredom caused by permissiveness and a lack of challenge. Although the teaching of values and moral development in schools has many opponents, the current permissiveness and neutrality on values in education have not had many positive results. The educational system should assume more responsibility for teaching the values and virtues of the American way of life. Only education can break the pattern of civic withdrawal in the United States today and, together with media outside the formal school structure such as television, instill in young Americans the values that lead to responsible citizenship. (Author/MK)

Competent school administrators should keep up-to-date on areas of information relating to their field and might find useful the following 12 most important elements in a performance accountability code for school executives: strive for fair and equitable treatment of the staff; make competence and performance the key to promotion; make decisions without undue delay; be consistent and do not vacillate; delegate responsibility and support those to whom you delegate; be understood; keep your word; find time to show concern for misfortune, to commend excellence, and to offer encouragement during stress and difficulty; be warm and human and operate with the smallest possible ego; follow through and remember significant details; admit your errors; and hear all sides when a big decision is coming up. Perhaps the most crucial test of a superintendent.s competence today is his or her ability to resolve issues in the face of hostility ranging from innuendo to threats of physical violence. There are three steps that can be taken to cope with hostility. (Author/IRT)

The federal role in the teaching of entrepreneurship skills development in the public schools is one of advocacy and leadership and one that will assist states and local education agencies to infuse and include entrepreneurship skills training into broad occupational program areas, career awareness, general training, and specific skills training. Besides exposing students to the history of underlying ideas and principles of the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship, it is vitally important to teach them specific entrepreneurial skills, such as self-organization. Other overlooked sources of entrepreneurial skills are books that have influenced the growth and development of the American economic system. The success of entrepreneurship and new ventures rests both on the general health of the economy and the nation's broader social climate. Important to successful entrepreneurship are the various levels of government favor or disfavor and a cooperative spirit between educational establishments and the needs of business entrepreneurs. Dramatic contributions have been made by the nation's entrepreneur high-technology companies, and the administration in turn has begun to respond by encouraging a substantial upgrading of mathematics and science instruction through block grants to the states. (JMK)

In discussing science/mathematics teacher shortage it is important to consider that: teacher demand will increase as school boards increase high school graduation requirements in science/mathematics, there must be an increase of teachers and also efforts to make teaching more attractive to those leaving the profession for better paying jobs in industry, and the microcomputer will have an impact upon all American education. It is up to educators to help equip students with the skills, knowledge, and values to meet their duties and responsibilities to the past and future of this nation. Mathematics and science are important parts of the past and future, and high school graduates not proficient in the basic skills will narrow the pool from which future engineers and scientists will be drawn. The strength of our economic system, the defense of our country are predicated on our dominance in education and technology, and to maintain strength in these areas, mathematics/science skills cannot degenerate. Quality teachers are needed to have quality education. A position of "Master Teacher" should be established, a position of esteem and distinction with salaries competitive with engineering, law, and other professions. In addition, the impact, potential, and immensity of computers in education and science/mathematics teacher training must be addressed. (JN)