In the first section of the paper, the writer surveys the literature of the school-size controversy: the research and the opinions. The writer "finds much of the latter and very little of the former upon which to draw conclusions....A section of the publication is devoted to subjective consideration of school characteristics which often tend to…

The purpose of this monograph is to describe a number of studies that the author has carried out, which offer some evidence for the existence of a few environmental factors which appear to influence children's performance on both ability and attainment tests. The notion is developed of how children's motivation to learn, and hence their level of…

This study proposed to determine how 5th grade students' political orientations result from such social characteristics as their sex, age, socio-economic status and race, and secondly, how student political orientations are influenced by the organization of their school. Emphasis was upon examining the organizational climate in an effort to see if…

Only recently is research into the total environmental requirements of the physically handicapped beginning to make substantial progress. Earlier literature in this field, which constitutes the majority of the literature presently available, concentrates on specifying basic building criteria but gives little or no attention to the nature of…

The intent of this paper is to assist social studies teachers in a thoughtful consideration of differing views on academic freedom. Practical information serves as background for forming a set of principles to guide decisions about teaching that involves controversial methods or content. Case studies illustrate several ways in which academic…

The architects, with the teaching staff, administration, students, and community, worked as a team to make a coordinated statement of the physical, functional, and esthetic proposals for a new school. The space and functional requirements of each teaching area have been documented and analyzed to arrive at a realistic appraisal of need for the…

The general emphasis of Project LONGSTEP was on the identification of changes in student achievement that occur as a result of exposure to intensive educational innovation. This volume explores the possibility that growth in student achievement test performance and positive changes in school-related attitudes were highly associated with highly…

Argues that the students, the primary constituency of the schools, have been omitted from efforts at school reform. Urges that students become part of a partnership with administrators, teachers, and parents through an integrated thematic plan that would make the student the center of the school universe. (FMW)

Presents the perspectives of a high school librarian and a high school English teacher on the issue of censorship in their schools. (MM)

Presents an interview with reading researcher James F. Bauman, Associate Professor at Purdue University. Discusses research findings which indicate that there are identifiable teacher behaviors and instructional environments that promote learning, and that reading comprehension skills can be taught. Discusses implications of findings for…

Lists three overarching themes and 12 specific recommendations made as the result of the 1988 report of the Engineering Deans Council Task Force on the Engineering Student Pipeline. These guidelines were developed to help improve the performance and retention of undergraduates in engineering programs. (CW)

By perpetuating habits, values, and attitudes that successfully mediate the interaction between the individual and the social environment, the Afro-American home environment prepares children to live in a society that devalues individuals whose social and ethnic origins differ from the accepted norm. Afro-American families stress social rather…

In this nationwide opinion survey, high school seniors generally rated their teachers and schools highly, though academically successful students gave higher ratings. Dissatisfactions with school environment concerned discipline and drug problems, and seniors wanted to offer solutions. Data are related to grades, socioeconomic background, and…

Describes a secondary analysis of a national assessment of educational progress in science which was conducted in 1981-1982 with students of age nine. Suggests that elementary school students' achievement and attitude are influenced jointly by a number of factors rather than by one or two dominant ones. (TW)

Reviews how medical teachers can assess the climate or overall ambience of their medical education environment. Suggests climate research studies that medical teachers might undertake. Presents some methodologies that might be employed in such studies. Promotes action research by medical teachers to improve the quality of medical education. (TW)