A 1994 survey of 55 middle and 32 high school principals in central Missouri revealed that peer sexual harassment is a common occurrence and that 67% of schools had no relevant policy. Administrators should draft a clear policy with help from students and parents, publicize the policy, and investigate all student complaints. (MLH)

Gang violence, thefts, and costs are among the reasons schools are adopting dress codes or uniforms. Evidence of their effect on behavior is largely anecdotal; empirical research is needed. Home economics professionals can work with parents to set dress policies, get student input, incorporate the teaching of values about clothing, build student…

Presents Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines that summarize school-based strategies most likely to be effective in preventing tobacco use among youth. The guidelines recommend that all schools develop and enforce a policy, provide instruction on tobacco use consequences, provide prevention education, train teachers, involve families,…

Resolution of serious behavior problems requires individual functional assessment of the events that predict and maintain the challenging behavior and identification of contextual factors that are relevant to effective behavioral support. Functional assessment can involve review of school records, interviews, rating scales, direct observation, and…

The Student-Assisted Functional Assessment Interview identifies antecedent events, ecological variables, and consequences that can be modified to improve a student's classroom behavior. The assessment tool solicits information directly from students about their preferences and their appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Interview results can…

A 6-month prospective study of 138 ninth-grade inner-city students examined links between initial emotional adjustment and subsequent social competence at school. High temporal consistency was found within each social competence domain, with some exceptions. Results suggest ecological influences in adolescent adjustment. (DR)

Based on results of work from British schools, this article identifies ten effective ways of responding to challenging behaviors of pupils with severe learning disabilities, including helping the pupil to establish positive relations with one adult, focusing on teaching language and communication, allowing the pupil to opt out of activities, and…

"School phobia" has generally referred to children and adolescents avoidant of school due to overwhelming fearfulness. This paper outlines the historical development of school phobia, including its transition from syndrome to symptom. Given the questionable validity of the construct, recommendations are made regarding future classification,…

Surveyed 526 on-campus college students about their reasons for drinking alcoholic beverages. Results indicated that students reported drinking because they liked the taste of alcohol and because drinking helped them celebrate special occasions. Negative or disintegrative reasons were endorsed rarely, and then usually by males, Greek organization…

Examined alcohol use among 7,799 adolescents. Found alcohol use highly correlated with composite effects of variables (behavioral intention; attitude toward school; school misconduct; time spent on sports, extracurricular activities, religion, and academics; grade average; gender; and grade level). Alcohol use was positively correlated with…

Discusses the complexities of plagiarism, looks at recent examples, and details classroom experiences with students as they attempt to define and control the practice. (SR)

Presents questionnaire results concerning self-handicapping, course-related expectancies, and study habits. Reports that self-handicappers were more likely than others to make external and unstable attributions. Concludes that the underlying cognitive mechanism of self-handicapping strategies is a defensive attributional pattern that protects an…

A Connecticut teacher who was fired after being accused of improperly touching a student tells the story of his ordeal. In the months following his termination, his mental health deteriorated as the media made frequent sensational reports. He feels, even if he wins his countersuit, he cannot be fully vindicated. (SM)

Children with dyssemia, a social disorder, cannot properly express or understand certain nonverbal language. The article examines six types of dyssemia and offers suggestions to help teachers interpret the signs and assist dyssemic students. Help includes making the child aware of the problem, having the child practice exercises, and monitoring…

Inside one Washington, DC, elementary school, Principal John Pannell has high hopes for his students and an expansive school vision. Malcolm X School compensates for disorder outside by clearly inculcating rules and behavior expectations. Children in school uniforms daily repeat a motto promoting Malcolm X as a school of love allowing no hitting,…