Explores the following five dimensions of self-perception held by black urban male 10th-grade students in North Carolina: (1) scholastic competence; (2) athletic competence; (3) physical appearance; (4) behavioral conduct; and (5) job competence. Investigates differences in these aspects of self-concept for 30 students scoring above and 30 scoring…

In 1988 the William Penn Foundation awarded nearly $6 million to agencies in the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) area for a variety of programs aimed at preventing child abuse. The 4 programs selected targeted parents who most needed but were least likely to have access to parent education and support services. The Foundation appointed the National…

This practicum sought to provide elementary school teachers with the skills and knowledge needed to teach students residing in foster care. The three specific goals of the practicum were: (1) to have all 30 of the teacher participants use teaching strategies appropriate to the education of foster care children; (2) to have at least 25 of the 30…

This theme issue of the Bernard van Leer Foundation newsletter focuses on the problem of teenage pregnancy and teenage parenthood in developing and developed nations, and examines the problems that teenage mothers face in different societies. It explores societal norms and values related to teenage parenting; the effects of teenage parents on…

In an attempt to analyze the success or failure of school reform efforts, this study looked closely at student and teacher interactions in one elementary classroom where a "democratic" approach was being implemented. The study used Victor Turner's work on rituals to analyze one episode in a third-grade classroom (one student sucked on a…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined how teachers restructuring schools came to understand the meaning of the term "unity of purpose." Fourteen Louisiana schools, comprised primarily of high-risk student populations, implemented the accelerated-schools model of restructuring. The accelerated school model is based on…

This paper discusses a study based on current research and literature regarding racial stereotypes in children. The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of social studies instruction on existing racial stereotypes and on the development, if any, of new stereotypes. It was hypothesized that the described instructional program…

This paper describes and evaluates the Blalock FIRST (Fund for the Improvement and Reform of Schools and Teaching) project, a 3-year, federally funded project based in an elementary school that serves mainly female-headed, African-American families who receive government assistance and live in public housing. The Blalock FIRST project seeks to…

This monograph presents 15 position statements of The Arc, a national organization for persons with mental retardation. A preamble presents the organization's Mission Statement. Principles and assumptions stressing the uniqueness of all people and the importance of a sense of control over one's destiny are listed. The position statements are then…

The retention of ethnic minorities is a major problem in American colleges and universities. This study deals with the factors that affect adjustment to college and, in particular, to achievement of "bicultural efficacy" for this group. Bicultural efficacy is defined as an individual's expectations that he or she can (or cannot) manage the stress…

This study examined how perceived teacher support of classroom questioning relates to other dimensions of teacher effectiveness, and how dimensions of teacher effectiveness are related to antecedents of classroom questioning. The study evaluated end-of-term ratings by college students (n=806) from 39 classes that suggested the following: (1)…

Close to 250,000 Jews from the former Soviet Union have arrived in the United States since the early 1970s. In recent years, former Soviets have been the largest refugee population to enter the United States. These immigrants are generally well-equipped for adjusting to American life. They are skilled, educated, and possess urban experience.…

Two papers on classroom teaching techniques and classroom environment in Botswana are presented. The first paper, "Is Teacher Training Associated with Teachers' Classroom Behavior? A Study of Botswana Junior Secondary School Teachers" by David W. Chapman and Conrad W. Snyder, Jr., investigates the extent to which teaching behaviors…

This learning activity package is designed to help the learner understand classes in apprenticeship-related instruction. Three units address what happens in apprenticeship classrooms, what should not be done in apprenticeship classrooms, and how to do one's best in an apprenticeship classroom. Each unit discusses problems that many students have…

Instead of relying on graduates' perceptions of their educational experiences a year or more after graduation, Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, decided to survey students applying for graduation about their recent experiences. Questionnaires were sent to all 1,450 graduating students in the 1992-93 academic year, with 872 returning…