Examined the relationship between adolescents' (N=72) perceptions of their parents' marital coalition and academic success as a college freshman. Results showed that students reporting a primary marital alliance tended to succeed academically and were more integral on the Rotter I-E scale than students reporting a nonmarital alliance as primary.…

Normative data collected on 197 disadvantaged high school dropouts on the dimension of internal-external control indicate this group appears to be external, but not markedly so. A short-term intervention program designed to improve academic and vocational skills did not appear to affect locus of control of 33 subjects. (Author/PN)

Notes both teacher's and parents' concerns over placing twin boys in the same early childhood classroom. Offers suggestions for teachers and parents to foster each child's independence and character traits without the trauma of placing them in separate environments. (HTH)

Three surveys, administered a year apart, to 259 newly hired, tenure track faculty at five colleges found their perception of personal control was a critical factor in emotional well-being, stress level, job satisfaction, by itself or in combination with institution type and time. Faculty at liberal arts and comprehensive colleges had most…

Investigates the influence of children's affective dispositions and knowledge of emotions on their ability to use nonaggressive conflict resolution strategies, exploring connections between autonomy and socioemotional development. Finds that individual differences in affective dispositions and emotional knowledge influence children's abilities to…

Three studies examined children's understanding of their authority over their self-knowledge. Findings suggest that the shift from reliance on adults to self occurs between 5 and 10 years of age, with parallel development in judging own and other people's self-knowledge. Children between ages 5 and 7 could differentiate between information about…

This study documented one child's development of conflict resolution skills when a peer problem-solving model was used in a constructivist-designed classroom. Findings revealed that this child progressed from a power assertion style of conflict resolution to a more sophisticated form of negotiation. The study supports current thinking that young…

Discusses two recent court decisions--"Urofsky v. Gilmore" and "Bonnell v. Lorenzo"--that concern the role of faculty within the university. Concludes that as the law now stands, faculty have no special First Amendment right to academic freedom. (Contains 93 references.) (Author/MLF)

This article explores the idea of toddler independence from a Montessori perspective. Integrated with increasing competence in daily living, independence is defined in terms of toileting, dressing and undressing, eating and food preparation, plant and animal care, clothes washing, sweeping, gardening, and putting oneself to sleep. (Author/KB)

Examines the hypothesis that students' perceptions of teacher autonomy support, parent attachment, competence, and self-worth would predict motivational orientation and achievement test performance. Results indicate that autonomy support, parent attachment, scholastic competence, and self-worth predicted the academic criterion variables.…

This article discusses the concept of choice and how our aspirations to promote choice for people with learning disabilities are undermined by conceptual confusion. It then examines environmental influences on choice, including staff behavior and other social influences on choice, and characteristics of service users and their influences on…

Presents paths for theoretical research and practical procedures that may help teachers make new technology pedagogically relevant. Discusses the need to develop learner autonomy to help students process information in meaningful ways and become independent learners by developing effective learning strategies, transfer skills, and a greater sense…

In response to James Mulick (EC 232 032), this paper encourages agreement in the field of mental retardation on the term "aversive"; new "outcome" standards for behavioral support; support that respects personal dignity; and fidelity of behavioral interventions in typical school and community settings. (DB)

Viewing teaching as an art, it is suggested that teachers should be prepared as artists are prepared. A model is presented for a preservice professional program which develops a pridefully creative outlook, an understanding of the humanities, a knowledge of pedagogy, and a personal artistic teaching style. (JD)

A project to promote self-determination for young people with autism is described. Project activities included the development and field-testing of a curriculum for high school students with autism to learn self- and life-knowledge skills. Field testing suggested that the curriculum increased knowledge and self-determination skills in students…