An overview of parental choice options and issues in Maine is presented in this paper. Methodology involved: (1) interviews with 10 state Department of Education officials; (2) analysis of State Department of Education data; (3) interviews with other educators and one state legislator; (4) analysis of newspaper and journal articles; and (5) a…

A national stratified random sample of superintendents (N=432) responded to a 42-item questionnaire listing probable causes of students dropping out. They were asked to identify causes that they believe should be given high priority as well as those that had the necessary research foundation from which to develop significant intervention programs.…

This booklet shares ideas, guidelines, and suggestions to help parents of junior high school students help their children read more and derive more pleasure from reading. The booklet focuses on the "why's" and "how to's" of two central issues in promoting reading for pleasure: supplying a wide variety of interesting reading…

Hypotheses presented in an initial report of this study were tested and, in general, all were supported. Maternal diagnosis, chronicity, and age of onset with regard to the child and to parent/child interaction were significantly associated with child competence. However, effects of these factors were not consistent across age of child or child…

Relationships between mothers' behaviors and (1) their children's verbal and nonverbal cognitive functioning, (2) their children's level of play, and (3) mothers' perceptions of their children's task motivation were investigated. Forty-four mothers and their preschool children from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds participated in the…

This publication provides parenting information concerning infants, toddlers, and children in the preschool, elementary school, early adolescence, and high school years. The section on infants includes material on child care, safety, and the process of learning language. Toddlers are discussed in terms of discipline, rewards, reading aloud, and…

Features of the Education for Parenting program's Learning About Parenting: Learning to Care curriculum, Parts I, II, and III are described in detail. The curriculum aims to sensitize students to the responsibilities of parenting and teach students the information and skills needed for parenting and caregiving. It is expected that students who…

The relationship between maternal teaching techniques and young children's temperament in the cases of 20 children in a university laboratory school and their mothers was investigated. McDevitt and Carey's (1978) Behavioral Style Questionnaire was used to assess children's temperament by means of mothers' reports. Teaching behaviors of interest…

The aim of this handbook is to help parents gain insights into: (1) the ways in which children learn; (2) basic skills children need for success in school; and (3) the importance of helping children develop a strong self-concept. Other topics include a rationale for parent participation in their children's learning, ideas to enhance creative…

A Parent Education Program was initiated in Chicago in fall 1981 to promote parental interest and involvement in their own and their children's education. The program's rationale, which is supported by studies of parent behavior and child development, is that involved parents will have a positive impact on their children's educational and personal…

The perceived importance of sources of sex education and the effects of gender, coital activity, and type of information were studied, and previous studies were assessed. Attention was directed to the relative contribution of parents, institutions, reading, and peers to the information about each of 35 different sexual topics of 116 male and 116…

The results of a case study in an elementary school indicate that parents can effectively support school improvement efforts even in schools with characteristics identified in previous research as inimical to change. Administrators, teachers, and parents were interviewed about the impact of a five-part plan developed by the school's parent teacher…

When in childhood concepts about alcohol and drinking begin to develop has just begun to be investigated. A study was conducted to examine cognitive, maturational, and differential exposure influences on the acquisition of concepts about alcoholic beverages in preschool children. Knowledge about alcoholic beverages and drinking was assessed in 65…

An account by a mother--who was also a children's librarian--of how she explored her young daughter's responses to books, this book describes the effect of books upon the development of children in their early years. Beginning shortly after the child's second birthday, the book relates the mother's and daughter's views about the picture books they…

Strategies to involve parents in the schooling of their children, especially parents of economically or educationally disadvantaged youngsters, are generally either advisory or collaborative. Advisory strategies structure parental involvement through councils at the school or district level. Collaborative strategies pursue various methods for…