Arguing that reliable and valid dropout rate estimates are prerequisite to establishment of causal factors and intervention programs, this article examines differences in definitions of dropouts, computational methods, and the complexities in defining cohorts, as well as the importance of sample attrition. Several sources of error are discussed.…

Provides basic information about disabled students for school support personnel: bus drivers, custodians, food service personnel, and school secretaries. Defines disability terms in layman's vocabulary. Addresses maintenance of least restrictive environment, basic skills for dealing with disabled students, and specific responsibilities of each…

Addressed are the complexities of defining curriculum. Curriculum decision-making involves value judgments and distribution problems. Four principal considerations of systematic curriculum development include what to study, who is taught, how to teach, and the interrelationship between subject matters. (SI)

Reviews history and application of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to argue that adverse impact definition of test discrimination embodied in unanimous 1971 Supreme Court decision in Griggs versus Duke Power Company and its progeny is the product of successful advocacy of unelected bureaucrats rather than a product of public…

Defines engineering as the process of manipulating nature to benefit mankind and as a decision-making process rather than a problem-solving one. Describes the engineering decision-making process with a diagram. Suggests some changes in engineering education. (YP)

The Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' recent definition of an official transcript and the issues regarding fraudulent documents identified for further study are outlined. The association's suggested practices and policies for prevention of fraudulent transcripts are appended. (MSE)

Analysis of definitions of literature by 129 college students of French literature revealed diversity in meaning; little note of literature as "great and good works" of a culture; emphasis on literature as a vehicle for learning about target culture; and little attention to polysemy in literary texts. (MSE)

Introduces a series of six installments on making the transition from a training/instructional design approach to human performance technology (HPT). The first installment topics include defining human performance technology; obstacles to effective HPT; and the necessary role characteristics for trainers performing HPT. (AEF)

Calls for a "renaissance in civility," discussing definitions of civility and the need to encourage manners and responsible behavior in children and adolescents. Argues that it is essential that elementary school children develop social awareness and social skills and that secondary school students be encouraged to take a more active part in their…

Considers how high school students perceive incidents of possible sexual harassment toward students and how they define sexual harassment. Scenario evaluations by 35 male and 38 female students of various ethnic groups demonstrated that type of harassment, status of the originator, and gender composition of the dyad affect severity ratings. (SLD)

Ideas concerning giftedness in young children were examined in this qualitative multisite case study with four experienced primary (kindergarten and first grade) teachers. Findings indicated that teachers saw two dimensions to giftedness: classroom performance and affective style. (Author/DB)

Instruments used to measure creativity by 418 school districts as part of their identification procedures for gifted programs were studied. Results indicated that districts often select instruments for assessing creativity without attending to the definition of the construct. Creativity is often assessed in ways that may not be valid or reliable.…

Members of minority groups in Britain need to explore new terms to describe their ethnicity, terms that establish them as part of the British mainstream first, and then describe their cultural heritage, so that the extended experience of more than one culture is recognized. (SLD)

Explains the definition and criteria of high quality in early childhood practitioners as the most important element in determining the quality of an early childhood program. Defines professionalism in the early childhood field and describes differentiated levels of professionalism, early childhood teacher certification from a national perspective,…

To examine the role of mentoring in urban school settings, conceptions of "urban schools,""mentors," and "mentoring" are explored. The most critical component of successful mentoring is a shared philosophy of the ways students learn and the possibility of learning. Strengthening the ability of mentors to exchange information is essential. (SLD)