Analysis of data from the Schools and Staffing Survey, 1987-88, reveals that compared to metropolitan schools, nonmetropolitan schools are smaller, have fewer teachers with advanced degrees, and offer fewer advanced or remedial classes. However, smaller rural schools often provide smaller classes, more teacher attention, and a less stressful…

Discusses sexuality as encompassing all areas of children's development. Suggests ways to use contextual situations to discuss body functions, body parts, and reproduction to foster healthy understandings of sexuality as children develop. Includes descriptions of best practices in early childhood education matched with developmental expectations…

A study of 118 adult women students, with children, in 3 Australian universities found 3 major factors in withdrawal: socioeconomic class (lack of family support for mother's study, lack of money, domestic responsibilities, lack of needed skills); nontraditional major (economics, business, law); and age (younger students because of family or…

Studied semantic and cognitive development of Korean-speaking and English-speaking children. Found that categorization and a naming spurt emerged later in Korean speakers than in English speakers, while means-ends abilities and success/failure words emerged earlier in Korean speakers than in English speakers. Also, Korean-speaking mothers…

A fundamental goal of multicultural social work education and practice should be to integrate humanism and a syncretic approach to learning that addresses value conflicts resulting from cultural diversity. Describes a model integrating this goal with dimensions of social work practice, including social welfare policy planning and development,…

A case example involving a Native American family referred to a child welfare agency illustrates social work intervention strategies that encourage cultural competence, recognize power differences between cultures, promote understanding of role variations and belief systems, consider alternative approaches for helping clients with drug or alcohol…

Examined children's behavioral and dispositional expectations for classroom best friends. Found that expectations were more important when evaluating a prototypic versus an actual best friend and that boys placed more importance on companionship, loyalty, and common interests for both types of friends. Suggested a need to consider the target of…

Reviews the current theories concerning individual differences in cognitive functioning. While some argue that heredity places a genetic cap on intellectual development, others emphasize the dynamic interrelationship between cultural and environmental factors. Concludes that intelligence is more complex than the heredity advocates allow. (MJP)

Effects of the sex of the counselor and of gender role orientation on client ratings of counselors-in-training were examined in a group (N=65) of graduate counselor trainees. An interaction between sex and gender role orientation was found for differences in clients' willingness to refer a friend to the counselor. Implications for training and…

The relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement was examined. Black eighth graders and white eighth graders completed achievement tests and described school and nonschool activities. Amount of participation was positively related to academic achievement. The relationship was stronger for white students…

This study examined Chinese students' self-presentation bias and continuing motivation for difficult and easy tasks. Students read scenarios about characters who performed tasks, then answered questions about whether the characters and they themselves would do another similar task. Results revealed self-presentation bias among Chinese students…

This study examined how pharmaceuticals were dispensed in one Florida county's public elementary, middle, and high schools and in six private schools. Surveys indicated that of 28,134 children surveyed, 1,016 received 5,411 doses of medication from school personnel, who were not necessarily health care personnel. Methylphenidate was the most…

A study of Israeli university engineering students (n=85) and education students (n=87) measured their motivated learning strategies and assessment preferences. Results showed individual differences in assessment preferences overshadowed discipline group differences, and assessment preference differences were largely related to learning strategies…

Describes the struggles children of multiracial families face in their daily lives and at school where they commonly experience the social isolation of not belonging to a defined group. The commentary, "Shades of Grey," explores the debate over racial categories, explaining its base in changing social standards. (SLD)

Survey of 67 bachelor-level human service workers measured aspects of job satisfaction and intent to pursue graduate education. Results support the hypothesis of stronger intention among satisfied senior practitioners (in jobs for three or more years) than among dissatisfied junior workers. Secondary findings include other explainers of intention,…