Most definitions of emotionally disturbed youngsters suggest that disturbances in the child's behavior patterns cause academic and social problems which affect the child and his peers. While the process of identification may be facilitated by operational criteria within a definition, these factors are noticeably absent from definitions of…

This is a quiet rant. A request to revisit an article reprinted in this issue prompted it and I focus on context and purpose of the original article, lack of developments in the field since the article was published, and favored directions to take in the future related to the focus of the original work. [This classic article was indexed in ERIC in…

In this paper, we focus on optimizing the assignment of students to courses. The target courses are conducted by different teachers using the same syllabus, course design, and lecture materials. More than 1,300 students are mechanically assigned to one of ten courses taught by different teachers. Therefore, mismatches often occur between students'…

Current research shows that students in foster care face numerous obstacles to educational success. Some educationally resilient students nonetheless exceed expectations in terms of academic achievement. This study examined the educational experiences of students in foster care in Hawai'i and the role played by key adult supporters and advocates.…

In a study of the level, complexity, and initiations of play behavior in 15 handicapped segregated, 15 handicapped mainstreamed, and 15 nonhandicapped mainstreamed preschoolers, Ss were observed during free play. Play levels, according to hierarchies of M. Parten and J. Piaget, as well as the play initiator were recorded every 3 minutes for 90…

Data collected on 130 older and 104 younger students with educable mental retardation are presented on intellectual level, racial background, degree of integration into regular programs, placement history, social status, and presence of specific behavioral disorders. Findings suggest the need for comprehensive curricula and systematic training in…

Behavioral rating scales were completed by teachers on 1,078 behaviorally disordered students assigned to resource rooms in public schools, self-contained classrooms in public schools, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and state training schools for the adjudicated. Data indicate that some differences do exist across settings…

SOME CASES OF EMOTIONAL MALADJUSTMENT AND UNDERACHIEVEMENT HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF POOR STUDENT PLACEMENT WITH CERTAIN TYPES OF TEACHERS. IF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS COULD BE TESTED THROUGH THE USE OF A FLEXIBILITY-RIGIDITY SCORE, THEIR BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS COULD BE MATCHED AND THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT IMPROVED. FLEXIBILITY, IN A CLASSROOM…

The study compared the regular classroom behavior and teacher ratings of 17 learning-disabled (LD), 16 low average (LA), and 17 average (AV) children in grades 1-2 in 11 schools before and after LD placement in resource programs. Among findings were no preplacement behavior differences and more LD maladaptive behavior patterns at postplacement.…

A study of 19 trainable retarded students (6-18 years old) showed (1) level of appropriate responding increased with transfer to the community; (2) level of inappropriate behavior remained the same after transter; and (3) levels of appropriate and inappropriate responding of the transferred group were similar to those of a community group.…

The monograph on severe behavior disorders of children and youth presents 23 papers on juvenile delinquency, behavior disorders at the secondary level, and self control instruction. Some of the papers included are: "A Comparison of Varied Teacher-to-Child Ratio on the Adaptive and Attending Behaviors of Two Autistic Children" (M. Zener,…

Characteristics of children (n=296) referred to a psychiatric outpatient facility for evaluation of behavioral and school-learning problems were compared to classroom placement recommendations made by a school interdisciplinary team. Results indicate general trends in the relationship between placement options and the incidence and severity of…

While total ontask behavior distinguished institutionalized children from children in community schools and special classes, it did not differentiate retarded children in community based classrooms from one another. (Author/SB)

Assessment of age, disability severity, developmental status, functional abilities, and behavioral characteristics of 162 children (ages 11 to 102 months) found that children enrolled in inclusive programs were more mildly disabled and functioned at higher levels than counterparts in programs exclusively for children with disabilities.…