Several years ago, the author taught a course called First-Year experience. A student named Sean mentioned that he played "water pong." Sean, a high-achieving student who was also a member of the lacrosse team, explained that water pong was a game with the rules of beer pong, using water rather than beer. Sean volunteered an explanation of his…

K-12 teaching is a profession characterized by high levels of burnout and emotional exhaustion. Teacher burnout has been widely reviewed and studied; however, only limited literature examines the emotional aspects of teachers' lives and its connection with teacher burnout. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on teacher burnout…

Several years ago, the author relates how he discovered that one of the undergraduates in his university has asked in an online bulletin board information on where one could find $25 or $50 Texas hold 'em games. It was then that he realized the subsequent growth of gambling among students and the seeming ambivalence to it on the part of many in…

The release of "The New Zealand Curriculum" causes us to rethink the aims of education. Dr Cavanagh offers an alternative set of aims to the vision outlined in the Ministry of Education document, which is based, at least in part, on socialisation into the corporate industrial world. Dr Cavanagh's position is focused on putting…

States that an adult basic education teacher is not only a teacher of subject matter, but also a teacher of how to live, succeed, and solve problems. Provides a review of the development of typical coping and defense mechanisms used by students in response to inner and outer pressures. (NRJ)

Adolescents struggle with many types of conflicts in their lives. They must define relationships with friends, teachers, parents, and themselves. Disagreements will arise, and without the proper training, many teens are left feeling angry, confused, or depressed. Teaching middle school students to deal with conflict productively at an early age…

This is an article about the complex relationship between anger and plagiarism in composition studies. Here, the author brings into dialogue two strands of inquiry that have shaped recent disciplinary conversations in composition studies but that have yet to publicly influence each other. Because emotions and authorship have both been perceived…

A psychiatrist discusses adolescent suicide and points to clues that may alert teachers to symptoms of student depression. Teachers should watch for students who have experienced a loss and who show sudden changes in behavior. Steps for helping them are suggested. (PP)

Three alternative secondary education programs that emphasized individualized instruction and social support for students were found to be influential in reducing disruptive behavior and improving the academic performance of students who were about to be expelled or suspended from school. Social psychological processes that led to program…

School psychologists are increasingly expected to become more involved in health related issues. It has been suggested that the frequent visitor to the school nurse (FVSN) is often the student with a high need for security, nurturance, and attachment to an adult at school. This paper focuses on children and adolescents who do not have a chronic…

Little attention has been paid to college women's drinking. For women, drinking is often a way of making friends and establishing intimate relationships. Peer influence is a strong persuader. College women who are careless in using alcohol may encounter additional problems like increased stress, depression, and sexual dysfunction. (SM)

Classroom groups work on two levels. The first is the level of the surface task with which the group is immediately concerned. The second level includes the hidden agendas of participants in the group. These are the undisclosed personal goals, needs, and aspirations of individuals. One way in which teachers can discover the hidden agendas of their…

A marked increase in the number of college students on medications for depression, attention deficit disorder, and other conditions may have intimidated counselors and educators into believing that they all need to be medical experts. The widespread practice of medicalizing behavior and experience contrasts dramatically with the approach in which…

Provides information on alcoholism and codependency to help teachers identify and respond to children of alcoholics (COAs). Discusses characteristics of alcoholic homes and problems encountered by children and adult COAs. Examines survival "masks" of COAs, including hero, rebel, adjustor, clown, and caretaker. Lists organizational,…