- Email: [email protected]
Fare well, journal of school psychology
Journal o/School Psycho&v, Vol. 24, PP. 321-323, Pergamon Journal\ Ltd. Prmred m the USA
1986 01986 The lournal
0022.4405:Y6/$3.OO+ 00 of School P\ychology, Inc
FARE WELL, JOURNAL OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY THOMAS
OAKLAND
Editor, Journal of School Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin
To serve as an editor of an established and respected professional journal is a great honor. Only those on whom the privilege is bestowed know from personal experiences the opportunities, advantages, and responsibilities the position holds. The responsibilities are of special importance, given our profession’s commitment to a scientistpractitioner model. Services provided by school psychologists are expected to be supportable empirically or theoretically and to be derived from a body of literature that is generally held in high esteem by the profession. In view of the importance of this model to school psychology, the editors of its various journals hold an important trust in that their work is instrumental in selecting and promoting the knowledge base for practice. The nature and quality of our professional services rely fundamentally on this literature. Thus, an editor is entrusted with a valuable resource for the advancement of science and professional practice. During the last seven years 1 have attempted to provide leadership for the Journal that would promote its statement of purpose: to publish original articles on research and practice relevant to the development of school psychology as both a scientific and an applied specialty. In working toward this goal I worked approximately 3,400 hours on JSP-related matters that included reviewing about 1,500 manuscripts, circulating 12,000 pieces of correspondence, and publishing close to 400 articles. Although these figures may appear to be large, my efforts represent only a fraction of those devoted to making the Journal worthy of the trust our profession has placed in JSP. I want to acknowledge the important efforts of others who have been instrumental in promoting the goals of JSP. The Journal’s strength comes from many quarters. More than 25 years ago shareholders of JSP had the foresight and faith to contribute the capital needed to launch the Journal. Its Board of Directors, and in particular its elected officers, have continued to steer the Journal toward its established goals. Don Smith, Jack Bardon, and Beeman Phillips served ably as the first three editors, molding and shaping the Journal from its predessor - a state newsletter-to one having an international reputation. I have been fortunate to have four associate editors who contributed importantly to JSP: John Bergan, C. Chrisman Wilson, Philip Saigh, and Alex Thomas. I greatly appreciate their help. Two of the associate editors deserve special recognition for having initiated new series. Philip Saigh, the associate editor for the international series, worked under difficult conditions in Beirut to ensure that the series was initiated promptly and properly and to obtain quality manuscripts describing school psychological services from many nations. Alex Thomas, as associate editor for reviews of school psychological software, marshaled resources and professionals who contributed 321
322
Journal
of School
Psychology
important descriptive and evaluative information on an important and growing area of our profession. 1am grateful to the staff of Pergamon Press, especially to Phyllis Hall, for helping to arrange the contract between Pergamon Press and JSP, Inc., and to Jerry Frank for enabling our relationship to develop and strengthen. Special thanks are directed to Marian Morse, Jacqueline Calkins, Christina Payne, and Lawrence Moran for serving ably as editorial assistants. Pat Anderson and Jo Ann Smith, who served as mq secretaries, helped shoulder many of my daily responsibilities. To them I am very indebted. Howe\,er, most of the work associated with the Jo~rrnul has been performed by the more than 100 persons who served as regular or guest editorial consultants and who willingly, ably, and promptly reviewed the manuscripts and provided helpful suggestions as to ways they could be improved. To them I am most grateful. In this, my farewell as editor, I would like to reflect upon the last several years and to identify a number of changes I helped initiate in order to strengthen the Journal. JSP was the first school psychology journal. During its 25 years the Journd has acquired a reputation for devotion to scholarship. An editor must recognize and honor the traditions and character of a successful journal while endeavoring to make appropriate changes that enable the journal to remain viable and current. A journal must have a sound financial base. Being unaffiliated with a professional organization, JSP cannot rely upon membership dues for its financial support. Our contract with Pergamon Press has been instrumental in establishing a solid fiscal base for JSP, Inc., for the first time in its history. Our corporate income has increased more than 400% during the last six years. JSP has a solid financial base. 1 am very pleased to have initiated the series on personalized histories of school psychologists. The series has provided invaluable information on the personal and professional characteristics of many of our early leaders, information that would no longer be obtainable with the passage of time. I think it appropriate that our specialty publicly honors the contributions of these important persons in this fashion and thus promotes professional socialization among its members. My first opportunities to work professionally occurred in Mexico and Central America in the mid-1970s. My subsequent work and travel in other nations increased, and readings that describe psychological and educational services in other nations furthered my understanding of the different ways school psychological services are conceptualized and delivered in various countries. The Journal had an obligation to describe these service delivery systems as a means of promoting further understanding and cooperation among school psychologists. School psychological services in all countries can be improved through incorporating features found elsewhere. In addition, I came to appreciate rhe international scope of research and academic literature that should butress our professional practice. No nation has a corner on knowledge; neither political nor geographic boundaries should restrict one’s professional commitment or the knowledge base of the profession. While we may work in a community, we reside in the world. A professional journal worthy of trust is cognizant of and responds to its international obligations. The new section describing school psychology services in other countries is specifically designed to further these goals under Philip Saigh’s leadership. The software review section represents another area of innovation. JSP is the first and presently the only school psychology journal to encourage the open exchange of information on software program\ importanr to our specialty. We have observed a
Oakland
323
remarkable increase in the quantity and quality of available software. JSP believes our profession should be informed of the availability and quality of software. This new section is fulfilling this obligation under Alex Thomas’s guiding hand. These three new series reflect a philosophy that a journal should be more than an archival repository for the best unsolicited manuscripts it receives. Professional journals can develop processes that lead to the creation of information. Journal editors frequently can identify areas in which more information is needed and can establish ways to obtain and distribute that information. I have initiated these series with this thought in mind. In addition to the previously described Pergamon contract and the three new series, other improvements to the Journal occurred by creating a new and bolder cover page, establishing a formal contract for the editor, obtaining liability insurance for the editor and officers, and developing a systematic process for the selection of the editor-elect. I have been privileged to work with a large cadre of professionals dedicated to a common mission. 1 am proud to have been a part of the creation, selection, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge through JSP. I hope my six-year tenure as editor will be seen to have been beneficial to the development of school psychology as both a scientific and applied specialty. Fare thee well, JSP.
1986 01986 The lournal
0022.4405:Y6/$3.OO+ 00 of School P\ychology, Inc
FARE WELL, JOURNAL OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY THOMAS
OAKLAND
Editor, Journal of School Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin
To serve as an editor of an established and respected professional journal is a great honor. Only those on whom the privilege is bestowed know from personal experiences the opportunities, advantages, and responsibilities the position holds. The responsibilities are of special importance, given our profession’s commitment to a scientistpractitioner model. Services provided by school psychologists are expected to be supportable empirically or theoretically and to be derived from a body of literature that is generally held in high esteem by the profession. In view of the importance of this model to school psychology, the editors of its various journals hold an important trust in that their work is instrumental in selecting and promoting the knowledge base for practice. The nature and quality of our professional services rely fundamentally on this literature. Thus, an editor is entrusted with a valuable resource for the advancement of science and professional practice. During the last seven years 1 have attempted to provide leadership for the Journal that would promote its statement of purpose: to publish original articles on research and practice relevant to the development of school psychology as both a scientific and an applied specialty. In working toward this goal I worked approximately 3,400 hours on JSP-related matters that included reviewing about 1,500 manuscripts, circulating 12,000 pieces of correspondence, and publishing close to 400 articles. Although these figures may appear to be large, my efforts represent only a fraction of those devoted to making the Journal worthy of the trust our profession has placed in JSP. I want to acknowledge the important efforts of others who have been instrumental in promoting the goals of JSP. The Journal’s strength comes from many quarters. More than 25 years ago shareholders of JSP had the foresight and faith to contribute the capital needed to launch the Journal. Its Board of Directors, and in particular its elected officers, have continued to steer the Journal toward its established goals. Don Smith, Jack Bardon, and Beeman Phillips served ably as the first three editors, molding and shaping the Journal from its predessor - a state newsletter-to one having an international reputation. I have been fortunate to have four associate editors who contributed importantly to JSP: John Bergan, C. Chrisman Wilson, Philip Saigh, and Alex Thomas. I greatly appreciate their help. Two of the associate editors deserve special recognition for having initiated new series. Philip Saigh, the associate editor for the international series, worked under difficult conditions in Beirut to ensure that the series was initiated promptly and properly and to obtain quality manuscripts describing school psychological services from many nations. Alex Thomas, as associate editor for reviews of school psychological software, marshaled resources and professionals who contributed 321
322
Journal
of School
Psychology
important descriptive and evaluative information on an important and growing area of our profession. 1am grateful to the staff of Pergamon Press, especially to Phyllis Hall, for helping to arrange the contract between Pergamon Press and JSP, Inc., and to Jerry Frank for enabling our relationship to develop and strengthen. Special thanks are directed to Marian Morse, Jacqueline Calkins, Christina Payne, and Lawrence Moran for serving ably as editorial assistants. Pat Anderson and Jo Ann Smith, who served as mq secretaries, helped shoulder many of my daily responsibilities. To them I am very indebted. Howe\,er, most of the work associated with the Jo~rrnul has been performed by the more than 100 persons who served as regular or guest editorial consultants and who willingly, ably, and promptly reviewed the manuscripts and provided helpful suggestions as to ways they could be improved. To them I am most grateful. In this, my farewell as editor, I would like to reflect upon the last several years and to identify a number of changes I helped initiate in order to strengthen the Journal. JSP was the first school psychology journal. During its 25 years the Journd has acquired a reputation for devotion to scholarship. An editor must recognize and honor the traditions and character of a successful journal while endeavoring to make appropriate changes that enable the journal to remain viable and current. A journal must have a sound financial base. Being unaffiliated with a professional organization, JSP cannot rely upon membership dues for its financial support. Our contract with Pergamon Press has been instrumental in establishing a solid fiscal base for JSP, Inc., for the first time in its history. Our corporate income has increased more than 400% during the last six years. JSP has a solid financial base. 1 am very pleased to have initiated the series on personalized histories of school psychologists. The series has provided invaluable information on the personal and professional characteristics of many of our early leaders, information that would no longer be obtainable with the passage of time. I think it appropriate that our specialty publicly honors the contributions of these important persons in this fashion and thus promotes professional socialization among its members. My first opportunities to work professionally occurred in Mexico and Central America in the mid-1970s. My subsequent work and travel in other nations increased, and readings that describe psychological and educational services in other nations furthered my understanding of the different ways school psychological services are conceptualized and delivered in various countries. The Journal had an obligation to describe these service delivery systems as a means of promoting further understanding and cooperation among school psychologists. School psychological services in all countries can be improved through incorporating features found elsewhere. In addition, I came to appreciate rhe international scope of research and academic literature that should butress our professional practice. No nation has a corner on knowledge; neither political nor geographic boundaries should restrict one’s professional commitment or the knowledge base of the profession. While we may work in a community, we reside in the world. A professional journal worthy of trust is cognizant of and responds to its international obligations. The new section describing school psychology services in other countries is specifically designed to further these goals under Philip Saigh’s leadership. The software review section represents another area of innovation. JSP is the first and presently the only school psychology journal to encourage the open exchange of information on software program\ importanr to our specialty. We have observed a
Oakland
323
remarkable increase in the quantity and quality of available software. JSP believes our profession should be informed of the availability and quality of software. This new section is fulfilling this obligation under Alex Thomas’s guiding hand. These three new series reflect a philosophy that a journal should be more than an archival repository for the best unsolicited manuscripts it receives. Professional journals can develop processes that lead to the creation of information. Journal editors frequently can identify areas in which more information is needed and can establish ways to obtain and distribute that information. I have initiated these series with this thought in mind. In addition to the previously described Pergamon contract and the three new series, other improvements to the Journal occurred by creating a new and bolder cover page, establishing a formal contract for the editor, obtaining liability insurance for the editor and officers, and developing a systematic process for the selection of the editor-elect. I have been privileged to work with a large cadre of professionals dedicated to a common mission. 1 am proud to have been a part of the creation, selection, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge through JSP. I hope my six-year tenure as editor will be seen to have been beneficial to the development of school psychology as both a scientific and applied specialty. Fare thee well, JSP.