Three hundred Four-H adolescents were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward the aged and the relationship of these attitudes to selected personal and situational factors. Results showed that these youths generally held positive attitudes toward older persons. Those having a positive sense of purpose in their own lives held more positive…

Tennessee's Career Education Needs Assessment identified a need for strong leadership in career education at the state level and a source of funding for: information dissemination re: relevant curriculum and guidance materials; and personnel to organize staff training in the use of career education materials and infusion techniques. (JC)

A 1973 survey of middle, junior, and senior high schools in Connecticut indicated that more schools teach geography now than they did in 1968; more geography courses are required now; no major curriculum changes have occurred since 1968; geography courses are oriented toward social studies; and geography is strongest in junior high schools.…

Minnesota vocational educators implemented a statewide public opinion poll to find out what people knew about vocational education and how much and what kind of information the public needs about it. Some results and how they will be used in Minnesota's vocational-technical education system are given. (MF)

Survey responses of 33 gifted coordinators in Minnesota school districts indicated that gifted education is not firmly entrenched at the kindergarten level. Few children are involved, classroom teachers attempt to instruct subpopulation with little differentiation made from the regular curriculum, and parent and community resources are not used to…

A Friends for Education (FFE) survey revealed that no state is below the norm at the elementary school level on six nationally normed commercially available achievement tests. Tests use a norm group from the past for comparison, but FFE suspects that inaccurate initial norms and teaching the test may cause high scores. (SLD)

Officials of the United States Department of Education conclude that the pervasive "above average" achievement reported by J. J. Cannell (1988) results from a combination of testing practices and procedures among school testing programs. Causative factors of this paradox, dubbed the "Lake Wobegon Phenomenon," are discussed.…

Representatives of the Riverside Publishing Company discuss the "Lake Wobegon Phenomenon," the reported "above average" achievement of most elementary schools nationwide that was discussed by J. J. Cannell (1988) of the Friends for Education. More appropriate use of normative comparisons and more complete reporting of test…

The time-bound nature of test norms is discussed in light of the report of J. J. Cannell (1988) that a large majority of elementary schools report above average achievement on national achievement tests. Generally increasing levels of achievement are deemed to be responsible for this phenomenon. (SLD)

Recognizing the concerns raised by J. J. Cannell (1988), Science Research Associates (SRA) defends its norms. Trends in curriculum need to be monitored in addition to students' achievement levels. New norms are needed only when there is a significant shift in curriculum or student performance. (SLD)

Despite the skepticism of J. J. Cannell (1988) that commercial test scores reveal much about the real achievement level of students, there is ample evidence that at least some of the gains observed on standardized tests are legitimate. Standardized scores should be greeted with healthy skepticism when high, but taken very seriously when low. (SLD)

The paper summarizes results from two Illinois studies on the roles of educational personnel (n=420) employed in special programs for infants/toddlers and three- to five-year-olds, and evaluates preservice training needs of these personnel. Time spent in various roles and perceptions of ideal emphasis on role areas during preservice are discussed.…

Survey results on knowledge and exposure to hearing loss for West Virginia classroom teachers (N=98), special educators (N=77), physicians (N=62), and rehabilitation counselors (N=66) revealed that only 58.4 percent had academic exposure. The average correct response rate was 73.8 percent for all four groups. (CB)

A questionnaire was sent to the 385 public schools in New York State that had indicated they offered at least one advanced science course. A summary of data provided from 232 questionnaires returned is presented. One finding is that the most common advanced course offered was in the biological sciences. (JN)

Presents the results of two surveys, undertaken in 1984 and 1985, which were designed to assess the status of social studies in the United States. Results show a great diversity of practices along with varying degrees of state power and influence over the local curriculum. (JDH)