Petty teasing, joking, and bullying at school can have devastating effects on students, leading to violent and disastrous consequences for both perpetrators and victims. The article makes suggestions for how educators can take a proactive stance to prevent a climate that allows bullying and harassment to flourish. (SM)

In this two-year study with elementary teachers, using a supplemental science instructional resource, "Superscience," it was found that teachers' internal beliefs about what will benefit their students are linked to the external constraints of their students' interests and the expected curriculum. Teachers were not likely to use the…

A study of 19 public schools in Washington and 20 in Alberta found that more Canadian teachers perceive principals as using positive motivation in social control communication; more male teachers think principals use negative motivation to communicate expectations; and teachers perceive that more male principals communicate expectations from a…

Two eighth-grade teachers at a Georgia middle school recently redesigned their curriculum to emphasize problem-centered, hands-on learning projects focusing on issues relevant to students. To demonstrate what was learned, students and teachers employed various student projects assessed by using rubrics that define a wide range of acceptable and…

This study examined influences on writing development among low-income, African-American elementary students. Questionnaires, test scores, and written answers from a longitudinal study provided study data. On all questionnaires, what consistently correlated with writing ability were effort, attitude, teacher and student expectations, maturity,…

Discusses and evaluates student responses to an activity in which seven grandmothers talked about their lives, perceptions of changing gender roles, and expectations for their daughters and granddaughters. Observes that it provided a powerful learning experience, linking textbook material on gender bias and cohort effects to the lives of actual…

Examines the effects of gender, expectations of success, and social comparison on children's performance on a computer-based task. Finds that the presence of like students facilitated the performance of girls with high expectations of success but was detrimental to those with low expectations; found opposite results for boys. (DSK)

Considers assumptions made in by Delucchi (Michael) and Smith (William L.) (1997) in their postmodern explanation of student consumerism. Suggests, instead, that problems encountered in college classrooms are more likely the result of two interacting social forces: (1) educators' changing pedagogy; and (2) shifting classroom dynamics. Discusses…

Integrates findings from three independent studies (one national quantitative and two urban qualitative) to analyze two aspects of the teacher/student relationship: (1) how teachers and students view their mutual relationship; and (2) how this relationship affects academic achievement. All three studies highlight the importance teachers place on…

Provides suggestions for decreasing gender-related differences in mathematics and questions for teachers to ask themselves regarding gender equity in mathematics. Teachers are urged to highlight the contributions of female and male mathematicians, to create a classroom climate that values problem solving, and to hold high expectations for all…

To bring students up to internationally benchmarked standards, high schools must abandon the ineffective general curriculum and focus resources on a narrower, academic curriculum. Professional and vocational education should be provided in postsecondary settings after students receive certificates of initial mastery. A 12-point school redesign…

The Council for Basic Education advocates for a strong liberal arts education, linked to high standards in core subject areas. A basic education has an academic focus centered on intellectual values. If students graduate from schools with high academic expectations, companies will have internationally competitive work forces. Equity can be…

Study with 569 university students examined effects of gender on positive/negative affect, interaction with students, interaction with professors, motivation, and self-concept of ability, and the effects of gender and these variables on grade point averages and educational expectations. Self-concept and interaction with students had strong effects…

An academic librarian answered 24 questions using reference books, then tried to answer the same questions using an Internet search engine (Metacrawler). Evaluates the results of the Internet searches and discusses implications for library reference services and reference book publishers; Internet user expectations and satisfaction; and librarians…

In two Texas elementary schools with similar student demographics but different school and district environments, teacher expectations about bilingual education students were influenced by differing bilingual education goals, beliefs about the value of student native language, teacher beliefs and district expectations about curriculum, and the use…