Tested the basic hypothesis that failure experiences at school increase the likelihood of aversive parent-child interaction after school. Subjects were 254 elementary school students. Found that children who rated more academic failure events at school described parents as more disapproving after school, but this effect was only partially mediated…

Examines nine school-based peer mediation and conflict resolution projects supported by state health departments in Florida, Maryland, Missouri, and North Carolina, noting project differences regarding targeted students, project consultants, teacher and student training, mediation format, teaching methods/curriculum content, complementary…

Highlights the importance of the dynamics of the learner group in shaping the second language (L2) learning process, and overviews the most relevant aspects of classroom dynamics. Argues that group characteristics and processes affect any success or failure in the L2 classroom and that teachers could benefit from an awareness of the principles of…

A study examined Spanish-speaking children's attitudes about being and staying bilingual. Classroom observations and interviews with 15 fifth-grade students, 12 parents, and 2 teachers at a Texas elementary school indicated that despite being in a supportive bilingual environment, students believed they would have to struggle to maintain their…

Analyzed data from 2,814 15- and 16-year-old secondary school students to investigate the collective influence of family, school, and peers on behavioral problems in adolescence. Adolescents with behavioral problems had a more negative perception of the environment, indicating that behavioral problems are associated with problems in multiple…

Replicates the Asch conformity experiment (two participants pretend to misjudge a shorter line for a longer one in an attempt to influence a third participant) and applies it to 110 school children ages 3 to 17. Indicates that conformity decreases with age in perceptually ambiguous tasks. (MJP)

Describes an encounter session at a School for Peace Workshop designed to teach peace and conflict resolution to Jewish and Palestinian adolescents in Israel. The workshop illustrates the importance of listening sensitively to the voices in conflict in order to develop valued modes of peace education and conflict resolution. (SM)

Investigates characteristics of students and their close friends and how they affect college aspirations and attendance. Focuses on whether gender, race, and track placement in school result in different peer-influence processes. Finds influence varies with racial and gender compositions of friendships. (NL)

The article examines why women and young girls are predisposed to tobacco use, what gender-based variables are at play, what external variables facilitate the initiation of tobacco use, why women continue to smoke, and what intervention strategies can address females and at-risk subgroups. (SM)

Describes a community peer participation, alcohol prevention program designed to prevent or delay alcohol use among young adolescents. Groups of students from 20 Minnesota schools planned supervised, alcohol-free activities. Program goals included peer leadership, social support for nondrinking, creating opportunities for alternative behaviors,…

Describes Nebraska's experience with a successful prevention program to form and maintain local drug-free youth groups. Over 4,500 youths were involved at a 6-year evaluation. Results showed that the programs attracted a significant number of high-risk youths. Nearly all reported being alcohol and tobacco free in the previous month. (SM)

A questionnaire on attitudes toward war play was given to 316 Italian and 84 English parents of children aged 2 to 6 years. In both cultures, boys were significantly more likely than girls to engage in solitary and social war play. Parental attitudes, television, and peers were the major sources of influence on war play. (Author/LB)

A study of 1,478 adolescents (364 males and 1,114 females) attending 10 private schools nationally explored factors influencing male and female adolescent sexual behavior. Most factors examined were significantly correlated with sexual intercourse frequency. Few gender differences were observed. Differential peer association was the strongest…

Studies alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use by fourth graders in Washington, DC (n=4,675 in 1988-89 and n=4,678 in 1990-91). Lifetime prevalence of self-reported alcohol use, alcohol use without parental knowledge, and smoking more than a puff of a cigarette declined, although marijuana use and cigarette experimentation did not decline. (SLD)

Discusses five premises that shape design and delivery of postinservice staff development programs (focusing on health education): teachers respond to innovations in developmental stages; a multiphase approach is necessary; opportunities for teacher collaboration are crucial; staff development approaches must fit stages of teacher development; and…