The president of Harvard University writes an open letter on the subject of free speech and its application to a university community. The question of whether heckling is an exercise of free speech or an infringement on the rights of the speaker is discussed. (MLW)

This checklist, designed to help elementary school teachers assess why a student is unable to complete a classroom assignment, lists criteria grouped under physical, academic, perceptual, behavioral, and motor factors. Compensatory actions such as adapting the classroom environment or referring the student for further evaluation are suggested. (CB)

Discusses a study which focused on students' actual programming behavior. Descriptive data revealed that the high school students spent little time in planning their programs or writing their code. Their debugging behavior was characterized as a trial and error strategy. (ML)

Discusses a study to evaluate the impact of a training program in mainstreaming on student-teacher classroom management styles and mainstreamed pupil behavior. Reveals that mainstreamed pupils in control classrooms displayed significantly less appropriate learning behaviors than did their experimental classroom peers. (RAE)

The study observed 30 secondary vocational educators to gather data on the instructional environments of vocational education programs relevant to learning-disabled students. Data were collected on curricular content, curricular format, student behavior, teacher behavior, and teacher focus. Differences between exploratory and preparatory programs…

This study identified factors that influenced the decision-making processes of five experienced elementary school teachers. Information about when, why and how teachers choose to intervene in the learning process was gathered. The factors are identified and discussed within the context of preservice teacher education. (JL)

This paper was developed from qualitative data that was collected as part of a larger study of high school students in Canada. Using a sociological orientation, students' perceptions of the causes and consequences of embarrassment are identified. (RB)

Instead of freeing teachers to teach, schools' bureaucratic organization may have inadvertently produced ritualized, mechanistic teaching that elicits only minimal compliance from students. Defensive teaching strategies, including fragmentation (teaching by lists), mystifying information, omitting controversial topics, and simplifying material,…

Established local norms for the frequency of disruptive and unproductive classroom behaviors using a sample of 81 referred and 81 nonreferred elementary school students in grades kindergarten through five. For assessment purposes, frequency of behaviors (off task, talked out, out of seat, other behavior) was categorized by grade level. (Author/ABL)

Used sociometric rating procedure to classify third and fifth grade boys (N=64) as peer-rejected. Standardized teacher ratings classified students as aggressive. Significant portion of rejected students were rated as highly aggressive. Aggressive rejected groups were rated as exhibiting lower achievement motivation and higher levels of hostile…

The "PEZ" candy dispenser has been used effectively to deliver reinforcers to moderately handicapped preschool students who display desirable behaviors. Contingency management procedures are described for using the candy dispenser to deliver reinforcers and subsequently to fade out the edible reinforcer and have the colorful dispenser itself…

This literature review points out physical discipline problems and their implications to physical education. Topics discussed include: (1) parent, community, and educator attitudes about discipline; (2) special discipline problems in physical education classes; (3) discipline approaches; and (4) special problem behaviors. (CB)

This study of preschoolers and their interactions with microcomputers identifies behaviors between children (positioning for turn at microcomputer, assisting peers, enforcing rules, dominating microcomputer) and between child and computer (object aggression, defending property, key manipulations, touching monitor). Children's understanding and…

Describes a program at Rochester School District (Pennsylvania) that determines the needs of students with chronic attendance and tardiness problems and works with students, families, social service agencies, and alternative educational programs to resolve conflicts. Chronic offenders are identified, assessed individually, and referred to…

Reviews court decisions in cases involving suspension or dismissal of public university students for academic dishonesty. The courts have required universities defending such suits to meet the procedural and due process standards for nonacademic disciplinary proceedings. Discusses the constitutional due process problems raised by the suspension or…