Demonstrates how "academic ethic" (a student world view that emphasizes diligent, daily, and sober study) can be operationalized and measured. Provides evidence for its existence among students at Illinois State University. Finds a relationship between methodical, disciplined study and academic performance. (Contains references.) (CMK)

Examines the relationships among possible selves, academic performance, motivation, self-esteem, and persistence on task by analyzing the questionnaires of 289 high school students. Reveals that the students who referred to positive selves outperformed the other groups in academic achievement as measured by grade point average and showed more…

Describes the Matrix Plan that is a planning grid with operational verbs related to Bloom's taxonomy and acts as a means for assisting teachers in differentiating instruction in the regular classroom. Explores a case where pre-service teachers utilized the Matrix Plan in order to help them learn about differential instruction. (CMK)

Alcohol use among adolescent athletes is fairly high. Young athletes may be more likely to abuse alcohol than their nonathlete peers and to suffer the behavioral and psychosocial consequences of drinking. They are also more prone to binge drinking. Education and prevention strategies should focus on behavioral and psychosocial consequences,…

Administered a modified version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to 448 high school students, as well as to psychiatric patients and juvenile offenders. Results suggest that students' responses were comparable to normal and clinical groups. The MMPI was effective in appraising the emotional problems of troubled…

Explores the relationship between parents and teachers as raters of children's behavior. Results, based on 48 families, indicate that internalizing and externalizing behavior scores revealed a significant relationship between mothers' and teachers' reports for externalizing behaviors only. Findings suggest that familial dysfunction can contribute…

A human immunodeficiency virus risk-scale compared risky health behaviors of female college athletes and their nonathlete peers. Both groups reported several risk behaviors. Athletes had significantly lower proportions of risk behaviors in several categories than nonathletes, though high levels of risk behavior overall indicated a need for…

The key to violence prevention lies in shaping children's beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors before violence becomes an automatic manifestation of their anger. The Johnson Institute's Respect and Protect program promotes respect for everyone and a systemwide ethos (violence as unacceptable), targets enabling behaviors, distinguishes between…

Surveys of rural junior high school students examined their perceptions of teen parenthood, their current sexual behavior, and risk factors for engaging in sexual intercourse. Results indicated that one in nine adolescents had engaged in sexual intercourse. Smoking and efficacy expectations of not engaging in sexual intercourse were significant…

Utilizes a multidimensional approach to examine perfectionistic standards for academic achievement and their association with depression and anxiety. Results reveal that both self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism were associated with depression and anxiety. Socially prescribed perfectionism was most closely related to the symptoms of…

Describes case study groups, a method to help teachers and other school personnel see what developmental and adjustment issues students face. Describes how case study group members collect information from a range of sources, code the information into behavioral anecdotes, spot gaps in information, and select new experiences that might help…

Describes the implementation of a character education program in one New Jersey school system. The program, developed by school and community members, includes all value-related issues and occurs throughout the system (including school buses, playgrounds, and extracurricular activities). Adults model good values, and children are taught values…

Addresses clothing-related behavioral problems for public school children and the increasing use of dress codes and uniform policies as preventive measures. It describes dress-related conflicts for black public school students and parents across socialization and contextual settings. The implications of preventive policies and practices are…

Evaluated psychometric properties of the Aggression Scale, a self-report measure of aggressive behaviors for middle school students. Found that reliability scores were high. Found no significant variations by gender, ethnicity, or grade level. Also found stability through 2 years, and positive association with independent ratings of student…

Discusses the challenges in teaching students at the middle and junior high school level, focusing on adolescents' developmental needs. States that the literature on teaching adolescent singers focuses mostly on their vocal needs. Introduces this Music and Middle School Chorus issue of "Music Educators Journal" by summarizing five of its articles.…