There's no doubt that children's home environments have a huge impact on the kind of people they become. But so do their educational environments. A number of schools are beginning to realize it's worth it to spend the time on "soft" skills such as empathy. Even forgetting the recent scary headlines about bullying, teachers know that a classroom…

Article described how a piece of appropriate music can change a group's mood thereby creating a better environment for learning. (Author/RK)

Discussed a 1974 research study in which student achievement in two different school environments was measured to see how it affected the development of creativity. (RK)

By the turn of the 20th century, three forces--urbanization, immigration, and industrialization--were conspiring to change the face of public education. Teachers still emphasized reading, memorization, and traditional academic subjects, but many began looking for new ways to reach an increasingly diverse student population. (IAH)

Innovation will flourish within a school environment that provides opportunities for teachers to plan, evaluate, and change through a cooperative and democratic process. (Author)