Examines characteristics of today's undergraduates. Shows that students are involved in local political activity, that they need to learn more about multiculturalism, that they are afraid of intimate relationships, and that they worry over money. Claims that colleges should provide an education that enables students to attain their dreams and…

Examines barriers to student participation in online conferences, including psychological/social forces and software limitations. Proposes the following ways to encourage student input: require participation; form learning teams; make activities interesting; don't settle just for opinions; structure activities; require hand-in assignments; know…

Examines the relationship between family processes and children's school-based adjustment for a sample of fourth-grade (n=161) and seventh-grade (n=151) children. Analyses indicate that child characteristics demonstrated the most consistent and direct association with school social adjustment. A variety of parent-child interactions and family life…

Examined the attitudes of parents whose children participated in an urban, elementary magnet school, emphasizing reasons for selecting that school, participation in school activities, effects of changing schools, and satisfaction with the program. Surveys and interviews indicated that parents were generally very satisfied, though there were…

This case study of a 6-year-old boy with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder discusses the advantages of combining person-centered planning and functional analysis to develop and implement broad-based behavioral-support plans. The support plan resulted in decreased challenging behavior, increased functional communication, improved academic…

Summarizes U.S. data from the 1997-98 World Health Organization Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Study, which examined the attitudes and experiences of children age 11, 13, and 15 years on various health behavior and lifestyle issues. Results are presented on: health and well-being; family relationships; school relationships; school…

Describes five effective programs that address the socialization needs of students: (1) a Vice Principal's Action Committee; (2) an administrative dispute mediation program; (3) an interpersonal skills offering for sixth graders; (4) a conflict resolution guidance component to the discipline office; and (5) a school-wide peer counseling assistance…

Discusses virtual online communities, probing claims about the Internet as a place for fostering democracy. The paper examines the democratic nature of computer conferencing in classrooms, focusing on a study of graduate students' online interactions. Results indicated that students were able to master the medium and act as responsible, equal…

Examined the effects of a multicomponent, four-year hearing-conservation program for farm youth. Researchers conducted pre- and postintervention hearing tests in control and intervention students. Surveys examined family hearing loss, farm work, noise exposure, and hearing-protection device (HPD) utilization. Significantly more intervention…

Examined the effects of elementary students' placement versus nonplacement in inclusive classrooms on parent attitudes, student behaviors, academic performance, and self-esteem, noting whether placement in different inclusive programs would create differences in measured outcomes. Surveys of parents, students, and teachers and examination of SAT…

Although the new principal of an innercity California school vowed to improve student achievement, the students could not learn amidst demoralized teachers in chaotic classrooms. Community-building had to come first. The principal met with parents and asked them to write behavior rules for the school. Various discipline, partnership, and literacy…

Reviews some legal and procedural guidelines pertaining to freedom of expression and due process in how teachers and administrators handle student verbal or symbolic threats. Reviews school cases related to freedom of expression, written expression, verbal or written expression off school property, and Internet expression. Offers recommendations…

Investigated the prevalence of health risk behaviors among diverse middle school students. Data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey-Middle School indicated that respondents engaged in multiple health risk behaviors, with 24.4 percent seriously considering suicide, 53.5 percent having been in a physical fight, 50.2 percent ever drinking, 17.9…

To enhance teaching effectiveness, university professors need multidimensional feedback on classroom transactions. The Teaching Feedback Model is a process that combines systematic observation of student and teacher behaviors with analysis of student learning. The paper describes the model, demonstrating its current use in college-level physical…

An anonymous questionnaire examined alcohol use, the social context of drinking, and sensation seeking among rural seventh through 12th graders. The sensation-seeking trait proved of moderate importance in distinguishing among different alcohol abuse practices. Social context measures were effective in distinguishing among levels on each indicant…