Presents a strategy for staff development designed to avoid resistance from tenured faculty. Suggests the use of outside consultants to train inside resource persons who then continue the staff development with their colleagues. Provides 11 references. (SKW)

In integrated schools, the educational system is slow to encourage black youngsters to participate at all levels of school life. Black participation is also inhibited by an insidious peer pressure and immature code of racial pride that defines blackness in terms that often exclude excellence in efforts beyond music, dance, and sports. (PS)

Reviews six articles which appear to be representative of the past 15 years during which researchers have focused on early adolescent egocentrism. Describes each article in chronological order and compares its research findings to those of the other articles. Finds a lack of consistency among findings. Reviews methodological problems and raises…

Rates of negative interactions immediately decreased during recess periods in which three male students (age 7) monitored their first-grade classmates' play behavior by awarding or withdrawing points. These and related results suggest that appointment to the role of peer monitor may itself function as an intervention. (Author/JW)

Presents findings of ethnographic research on children's talk and behavior, specifically routines in spontaneous peer play and verbal routines in structured activities. Concludes that instructional strategies should incorporate some of the features of children's play routines and peer culture. (SRT)

Three innovative ideas for college instruction include a freshman assignment to write recruitment letters to high school students with similar interests, introductory art history classes taught solely in a museum adjacent to the campus, and use of the "Hunt of the Unicorn" tapestry to combine plant identification practice with art…

Examines adolescents' susceptibility to peer pressure in after-school experiences in a large sample of fifth, sixth, eighth, and ninth graders. Shows that adolescents who report home after school are not significantly different from those who are supervised by their parents at home during after-school hours. (HOD)

Examines the effect of an unfamiliar peer in a situation requiring a subject's separation from mother in order to play with attractive toys. Observation of 20 children 18 months old and 20 children 30 months old revealed that peer presence facilitated initial separation for both ages, but that age differences in subsequent behaviors existed. (CB)

Evaluated the relationship of demographic, individual, and family relationship variables to criminal activity among juvenile offenders and their siblings. Socialized-aggressive disorder, as rated by the parent(s), the adolescent's age at first arrest, and several family relationship measures were significant predictors of arrest. (JAC)

The Second Language Learning in the Primary School Project was developed to explore ways of providing for the special language needs of children from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The project focused on language skills, first-hand experiences, extensive use of spoken language, and children working together. Examples of this…

Students who use psychoactive drugs for nontherapeutic reasons differ fundamentally from nonusers. Several large-scale longitudinal studies are reviewed and characteristics of drug users are summarized. Predictive factors are discussed. (Author/MT)

Students were found to resist persuasive pressure towards alcohol after completing a course utilizing McGuire's Inoculation Theory. The Inoculation Theory familiarizes students with possible arguments pressuring them to drink and suggests refutations to be used. Details of this theory and techniques of the testing procedure are given. (DF)

The president of the Toledo Federation of Teachers discusses how experienced teachers in that city oversee the professional development of new teachers and provide assistance to veteran colleagues experiencing severe problems in the classroom. He also describes the role played in this plan by the union. (CMG)

Surveyed 596 fifth through seventh graders regarding their cigarette and alcohol behaviors, attitudes, knowledge. Approximately one third of the students were experimental users of these substances. Pro-smoking and pro-drinking attitudes were directly related to use. Knowledge about smoking and drinking were inversely related to use. (JAC)

Investigated whether an association exists between quietness in children and rejection of these children by their peers. Collected data from 1,529 children in grades three through 12. Found a strong tendency on the part of children to reject shy or quiet peers. (PD)