Forward in the Fifth is an organization created to improve the quality of education in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District, which had the lowest percentage of high school graduates in America. The organization has employed innovative ways to involve the whole community, resulting in widespread cooperation, as well as increased graduation rates…

Examines the effects of persistent economic hardship on children. Both black and white children who experienced persistent family economic hardship demonstrated problems in peer relations, showed conduct problems at school, and reported low self-esteem. Connections between persistent economic hardship and psychosocial adjustment were more…

Approaches to studying were measured in male and female students taking arts and sciences degrees at three British colleges. Students taking science courses had greater reproduction orientation than those in arts courses. Females had greater meaning orientation in arts courses taken in a "female" learning environment, and when taking…

Review of 11 studies of health professions curricula incorporating training in professional self-assessment found initial student disorientation and distrust to be common. However, among successful programs both noncognitive and cognitive benefits appeared. Results suggest that self-assessment training promotes more mature, collegial, productive…

Data from the 1987-88 National Assessment of Educational Progress School Questionnaire for grades 4, 8, and 12 were examined to determine relationships between policy changes and school climate and individual grouping variables. Reform is taking place where it is most needed (in large urban disadvantaged schools with non-white populations). (SLD)

Presents ideas addressed at a discussion of the changing culture of the university attended by 17 academics from diverse disciplines, who have recently spoken or written against the "politically correct" academic trends. Discussion, based on the transcript, considers why democratic institutions were being undermined in the name of…

Discusses the importance of fostering conversation about difficult issues such as racism and injustice. Offers six guidelines for teacher facilitated group discussions in the classroom about sensitive issues that cover planning, goals, setting the stage, rules, and encouraging openness. (JB)

Describes the 1989-90 "New Schools for New York" architectural study project which asked architects to create schools (via renovation or new construction) embodying flexibility, security, warmth, cost efficiency, and respect for students and teachers as individuals. The specific architectural challenges at each of the six selected sites…

Analysis of data on a conflict between the Joshua Gap (California) school district and local parents over the district's decision to utilize a multiculturally oriented textbook series suggests that contrasting images of the local and larger U.S. community, and contrasting views about the role of schooling, contributed to the conflict. (IAH)

This survey found that regular education teachers (n=312) felt that friendships between students with and without disabilities are possible, should be facilitated by adults, and are beneficial to all students. The survey also identified educational settings in which friendship, functional life skill, and academic skill development were most likely…

Discusses factors which influence performance when authoring multimedia instructional materials, including background knowledge, resource accessibility, learning and teaching styles, learning or job setting, access to expertise, performance support, cooperative learning, tutorials, models, online training, and expert guidance. (Contains six…

Discusses conceptual difficulties in the field of geometrical optics and describes RAY, a microcomputer-based graphic interface that was designed to serve as a teaching aid and as a learning environment. The ability to combine theory and formal representations with real demonstrations and experiments is discussed. (Contains seven references.) (LRW)

A survey of 45 at-risk students enrolled in an alternative rural high school revealed that teachers appeared more concerned about students, were less authoritarian, allowed students more input into decision making, treated students more fairly, and were more enthusiastic than teachers at traditional high schools previously attended by respondents.…

This paper offers a model of the nature and development of talents, which views genetic factors as determining potential strengths and setting limits and views abilities, aptitudes, and intelligences emerging as a result of experiences, motivations, and styles. Specific talents are characterized by precocity, creative insight, a functional…

Reports the results of a questionnaire given to eighth-grade students in Moscow (Russia). Presents results on student opinions about the school environment, their teachers, their image of schools of the future, and the significance of peer groups in their lives. Includes quotes from students on each topic discussed. (CFR)