This study examines the relationship between student causal attributions of student misconduct, their endorsement of university disciplinary actions, and acceptance of student misconduct as being justified. Students tended to endorse more punitive disciplinary action for behaviors they viewed as caused more by trait than by environmental factors.…

Boys (N=12), identified as constituting behavior problems in a class of underachievers, were given group human-relations training. Self-esteem was improved by training procedures including videotape as well as facilitative communication. Group experiences seemed to affect classroom behavior positively, as evidenced by a decrease in behavior…

Locus of control and classroom behavior data were gathered from 223 randomly selected junior/senior high school students. Results showed moderate positive correlation between internality and both considerate and task-oriented behavior. The strongest relationship observed was between perceptions about the teacher's control over negative outcomes…

In an attempt to delineate and distinguish some of the stresses for university students, the authors have separated them one from the other when in reality they are part of a totality, constantly interacting with each other. This normative developmental process is, however, an extremely painful one. (Author)

A study of groups of fifth graders working in competitive or cooperative learning conditions found that in the cooperative condition, most student interactions were on-task, whereas in the competitive condition, all student interactions were off-task. Groups that began the term in the competitive condition and then switched to cooperative learning…

Examined effects of eight teachers' ethno-theories (beliefs and values) on interactions with their students, with two broad groupings of child temperament: difficult and easy. Found that children classified as difficult by teachers consistently gave and received from teachers more negative-valence in emotional and social behaviors than easy…

Explores the debate on diversity, clarifying how the positive effects of diversity activities outweigh potential problems. Explains the role of student affairs administrators in using the university mission statement to concurrently promote diversity, civility, and free speech. Describes the First Amendment as setting minimum parameters for…

Studies a classroom issue, discipline, by viewing it from the framework of "Negotiated Order Theory." Reveals how and why discipline is negotiated by a first-year teacher and his ninth-grade students. Explicates the communicative strategies used by the teacher and his students to negotiate classroom order. Indicates that misbehavior…

Surveys and focus groups involving students from high schools with condom availability programs assessed health risk behaviors and perceptions of school environment, program effectiveness, and program improvement. Students supported such programs. Students worried about privacy when obtaining condoms, recommending private locations for accessing…

Describes efforts to increase the independence created by self-management procedures by teaching children to self-initiate their implementation across settings and activities. Participants were two boys who engaged in inappropriate vocalizations. Results indicate that participants were able to discriminate settings or activities in which…

Discusses problem-solving strategies designed to diffuse the power of suburban youth gangs. Argues against using the metaphor of "war" to combat youth violence and outlines the dimensions of a comprehensive policy that emphasizes prevention, prosecution, and placement. Suggests what local governments can do to solve this problem. (RJM)

School personnel often misclassify a conduct-disordered student as severely emotionally disturbed, following a serious offense. Educators must remember, however, that mislabeling a child to obtain services, prevent expulsion, or remove the child to a special classroom is both inappropriate and unethical. Legal language should be clarified, and…

Discusses six proactive strategies to help teachers improve classroom discipline: (1) move around the room; (2) teach social skills; (3) have a sense of humor; (4) don't personalize unruly behavior; (5) look for causes of discipline problems; and (6) promote student responsibility. (SM)

Reports on violence prevention in an inner-city middle school. Interviews of students, deemed by peers and teachers as good at managing conflict, revealed eight themes. For example, student experts inoculated themselves in attitude to avoid violence; de-escalated situations when provoked; and believed the cost of fighting exceeds the reward. (RJM)

Describes an ethnographic study of 126 developmental mathematics students at a 4-year college to determine characteristics related to success in the course and subsequent retention. Reports that student attendance and engagement strongly influenced success. Lists recommendations for improving student engagement. A list of observed student…