Chris Mercogliano's book about a free school in Albany, New York, advocates liberating children's life energies from the destructive forces of regimentation, repression, and control on which public education is based. An educational philosophy is needed that pays attention primarily to emotional and interpersonal issues, since academic learning…

Examined the extent to which English primary schools are increasing involvement in teacher training and the impact this has on school development plans, classroom teaching and learning quality, and teachers' career development. Data from 1997 surveys of 462 primary schools that had recently received student teachers are being used to examine…

This second part of a two-part essay shows how teachers, especially middle school teachers, can reduce academic risk. Two hypotheses are examined: (1) the more the classroom culture respects students, the more students respect the purposes, principles, and people in the classroom; and (2) assessment of learning must be fair and meaningful for all.…

From dynamic spreadsheets through "microworlds" to virtual reality, the convenience and, in many instances, the seemingly intrinsic appeal of simulated environments exist in some tension alongside concerns regarding the relationship of the simulated to the "real" and the possible consequences for human thought, learning, and behavior. A selection…

A study of 60 preschool, kindergarten, and first grade teachers found significant relationships among teachers' beliefs about how children learn; their views on the goals of early childhood education; their positions on policies related to school entry, testing, and retention; their satisfaction with current practices, and pressures for change;…

Offers 24 strategies currently in use for designing an effective, multi-dimensional behavioral program for a student with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Suggests that these interventions, none of which involve medication, can be carried over into the home environment to better help the child generalize between situations. (MKA)

Issues facing historically disadvantaged universities in South Africa are examined, focusing on their impact on the cognitive development of students. It is concluded that students' cognitive development is a strategic matter, requiring the coherent effort of a whole institution rather than being the exclusive province of any specialized units.…

The influences of elementary school context were studied with 88 preservice teachers student teaching in 2 different university field programs. Data support the benefits of pluralistic school experiences for future teachers and suggest that contextual conditions unique to a particular school may influence preservice teachers' learning and…

An award-winning Alaskan elementary school is designed to blend into the landscape; capture as much winter daylight as possible; and generally accommodate safety, flexibility, practicality, and whimsy. In a sidebar, the architect explains the importance of architect/educator collaboration in designing a building that supports an educational…

Investigated body figure preferences, eating disorder symptomatology, and role concerns in 142 Australian Caucasian adolescent girls in private single-sex and private coeducational schools. Reasons girls in the single-sex school had a thinner ideal figure and displayed more eating disorder patterns than those in the coeducational school are…

Twelve Swedish day-care centers were studied concerning patterns of adult behavior towards children, and adult intentions, attitudes, and norms regarding work and interpersonal relations. Found that patterns of adult behavior were proscribed by three different center climates: future focused, present focused, and combined. Three patterns of adult…

Examines current academic culture and how it affects growth in nontraditional and distant student populations. Characteristics examined include goal ambiguity, limited flexibility in adapting academic programs to students' needs, low faculty interdependence, and high vulnerability because of decreased funding and societal demands. Examples of…

Involvement in various college activities and educational gains of black students (n=1,200) attending a historically white institution were compared. Involvement in academic activities had a greater impact on gains of students at the black institution, and social engagement was more important for black students at the white institution. (Author)

Delineates the historical and sociopolitical factors that influenced the educational development of sociology in Brazil. Discusses leading theorists, educational reformers, and the university's role in opposing the military regime. More recent crises have included shrinking academic budgets and declining enrollment. (MJP)

Examines the educational development of sociology in Singapore from its beginnings in 1965 to the present. Singaporean sociology is noted for its openness to international influences and scholarship and its close association with anthropology. Includes a tabulation of Singaporean sociological research by subject field and authorship. (MJP)