Attitudes toward college are related to the existence of two dimensions, academic orientation and traditionalism. Academic orientation relates to satisfaction with faculty and traditionalism relates to satisfaction with the administration and major field. (Editor)

Contract teaching is a method in which the student studies a particular course, independent of formal day-to-day instruction, by contracting to do a particular piece of work in the course of a semester. (Author/MB)

A threefold approach, presented for combatting boredom in the classroom, involves (1) understanding the dynamics of boredom; (2) interpersonal skills to help students understand and manage boredom; and (3) guidelines for selecting classroom procedures to decrease boredom. (Author/PP)

Survey 143 high school students concerning their self-assessment and situation related to grades received. Results showed widespread dissatisfaction with grades, often related to a general dislike of school, personal problems or personal unhappiness. Effort exerted was significantly related to grade satisfaction. (JAC)

Primary symptoms of cocaine use and behavioral characteristics of chronic users are pointed out. Ways that school health services can help identify and assist students who abuse the substance are suggested. Approaches such as peer identification, self-diagnosis, and use of a school ombudsman are discussed. (PP)

This article explains how and why stress mechanisms operate in students who participate in sports. Students respond to different sport situations with various physical, psychological, and social reactions. When developing and supervising sports, school personnel should take into consideration the physical and psychological development of…

The effects of using immediate feedback versus feedback delayed by 24 hours on academic self-concept and performance in arithmetic were studied, using 236 fourth graders as subjects. Delayed feedback seemed to benefit students with low perceptions of their academic ability; other students were unaffected by the type of feedback. (Authors/PP)

College students (N=192) and teachers (N=23) responses to a 28-item questionnaire were analyzed to determine the five items most and five items least important in learning. Results suggest that students are practical, goal- or job-oriented, and willing to look to faculty for, or actually demand from the faculty, rather strict guidance. (Author/JN)

Presents observations of 30 high ability students participating in a three-day summer science course. Includes results of tests measuring divergent thinking given to students and student comments on the ideal science teacher, ideal science classroom, and cities of the future. (Author/JN)

This article suggests ways for teachers to help students handle stress. Creating a comfortable, cheerful environment in which children are stimulated to accept challenges and take risks is one of the first steps in teaching children to cope with stress in the classroom. (FG)

A study comparing the performances and preferences of college statistics students in streamed and mixed-ability groups revealed that both types of class organization are workable, but students prefer varied abilities in small work groups. (AM)

A study of response to speed changes in coincidence-anticipation judgments investigated: (1) the existence of directional error; (2) its persistence after extended practice; and (3) its occurrence upon transfer to new contextual stimuli. Reactions of female athletes to a Bassin anticipation task are discussed. (PP)

A study used psychometric information to determine the efficacy of a stress management unit in a high school health class. Students who took the unit showed improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and the ability to relax, as demonstrated on tests of heart rate and muscular tension. (PP)