Discussed are the goals of a unified national art curriculum: (1) developing visual perception, (2) developing visual literacy, (3) helping students discover and use their creativity, (4) teaching students to respond to personal experiences and their environments, and (5) refining skills in used art media. (RM)

Identification of the boundaries between lay and professional advocacy in working with families with handicapped children is aided by an understanding of the key variables that characterize these families. Professional clarity about differing advocacy roles and the potential of social exchange leads to a new model of advocacy in working with…

An experiment in which experienced teachers were given different roles to enact temporarily, and the resulting change in the teachers' attitudes toward students and self-concept is described and discussed. (MSE)

Describes a perception test that can lead to a lively discussion of why students missed some of the answers. (HOD)

Secondary school principals in Ohio were surveyed regarding their reliance on formal and informal information for decision making and potential predictors of such reliance. Data supported the existence of a number of dimensions that distinguish principals who are greater information users from lesser users. (Author/LMO)

Discusses the psychophysics of sound localization and the spatial attributes of sound, attempting to explain some of the methods used to produce more realistic sound images. Topics include: direct and indirect sound; localization and sound images; precedence effect; and techniques for creating spaciousness and for sonic image enhancement. (JM)

An important step toward achieving equity in education for women and minorities is understanding stereotyping and how it affects teachers and students. This article discusses stereotyping, where it is commonly found, influences it may have on teachers and students, and some interventions to reduce its impact. (JMK)

Two experiments were conducted on the influence of language mode (print or sign) and syntax (English or American Sign Language) on recall, preference, and comprehension. Prelingual deaf individuals' visual orientation produced a sign-based encoding system that responded to American Sign Language as a familiar language. (Author/BS)

A survey of Australian department heads in 61 institutions examined their most important tasks and responsibilities and perceptions of professional development opportunities; the results are compared with North American studies. Three alternative strategies for meeting professional development needs are suggested and evaluated. (Author/MSE)

The purpose of music education is to promote the aesthetic response to music by developing perception of the various music elements, including melody. Discussed are what melodic perception is and how it develops, the nature of melody from the psychological point of view, and some experiments on melodic perception. (RM)

Presents six diagrams that describe what happens when a text is read. (HOD)

A review of the essentials of ability formation theory is followed by a review of recent research relevant to the question of how students develop conceptions of their abilities. The ways in which ability formation theory may be refined on the basis of recent findings regarding classroom process are discussed. (PN)

Issues examined were (1) the degree to which first-grade students engaged in within-group and across-group comparisions and were aware of group differences, and (2) the relationship between teacher praise and students' group levels and academic performances. (RH)

Critical thinking alone is reactive, in that it lacks the creative elements necessary for social progress. Accordingly, the author has developed the CoRT (Cognitive Research Trust) program to teach the two aspects of perception: breadth (developing a perceptual map) and change (using the map to discover solutions). (TE)

Provides examples of science activities in which children use their senses in manipulating objects and ideas. Suggests that these and other activities be extended to help children deepen their understanding of scientific concepts. (JN)