A survey of 55 physical education department heads reveals that less than half gave fitness tests to their physical education majors. Other data support a seemingly low priority on ensuring this aspect of student preparation. Physical fitness standards should be designed as screening and exit goals for physical education majors. (IAH)

Challenges abstract mathematics requirements in U.S. high schools. Refutes various philosophical and psychological assumptions underlying math instruction, particularly the correlation between simple numbers and the physical world, the math/logical thinking connection, and frequency of use arguments. Suggests that high schools require only one…

Data from 4 Illinois community college districts on 846 students who took at least 1 vocational course showed the following: most took multiple vocational courses, 97% in the lowest quartile completed vocational sequences, a higher percentage of special needs students completed vocational programs, and defining program completion according to…

An Austin (Texas) high school's Credit Plus program accelerates high-risk students by helping them make up credits missed through failure or poor attendance and prepare them for graduation. The program succeeds because of its application and assessment process, low student-teacher ratio, positive physical and mental environment, structured…

Argues that student who invested 12 years working hard, studying, and obeying teachers deserves diploma even though diploma's value may be suspect. In some states, like Alabama, value of 12-year investment can be reduced to zero by single multiple-choice test score. Schools must treat all students fairly by considering multiple intelligences and…

Conflicting policies, careless recordkeeping, and racial tension added up in turmoil for the Newton County (Georgia) Board of Education when an African-American student and a white student each claimed the honor of being class valedictorian. (MLF)

Uses data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine economic, institutional, and sociological antecedents of high school completion and adolescent fertility. Welfare generosity appears to have a significant positive effect on adolescent childbearing. Other important determinants of teenage parenthood and educational attainment…

Recent transfer of nursing education from hospitals to college and university programs in Australia gave rise to several issues: debate over curriculum length and content, lack of faculty with advanced degrees, scant nursing research, and some reluctance to accept nursing faculty in the academic community. (SK)

Former middle-school principal's graduation speech to fifth graders and their parents focuses on three areas: students and psychological and physiological changes they will experience; what to expect in middle school (teamwork and advisee-group activities); and secrets for success and happiness. Students and parents are advised to concentrate on…

Assessed longer term effects for a cohort of African-American college students (n=231) who were targeted clientele for an academic counseling service program specifically for African Americans. Results confirmed special counseling programs are important in ensuring progress and graduation of African-American students on predominantly White…

Examines issues of curricular and instructional validity, criticism of diploma-sanctioned tests, teaching the test, and the role of the courts in new solutions. Contends diploma tests may ensure that students are given the opportunity to learn those skills essential to becoming a productive member of society. (209 references) (MLF)

Describes how students at a California high school developed and wrote a bill, currently being carried in the state legislature by the students' state assemblywoman, which would make multicultural studies a graduation requirement. (SR)

A new approach for examining the quality of judgments from standard-setting judges using a Binomial Trials Model (BTM) is presented and illustrated with 26 judges from the Georgia High School Graduation Test. Results suggest that the BTM provides information not available from other methods. (SLD)

The Ninth Circuit Court's decision upholding the Madison School District's policy allowing students to speak (and pray) at graduation ceremonies is correct. So long as students are selected by religiously neutral criteria (class rank) and can speak on any topic, the Free Speech Clause should protect that student's expression. (MLH)

Survey responses from 55 Dutch agricultural vocational schools show that administrators believe that transition, the ability of students to change between training modes or qualification levels easily, has enhanced the flexibility of the qualification system developed under recent national reforms. (SLD)