Large numbers of adolescent students have already been infected with HIV and are now unknowingly infecting others. Irreversible nature of HIV infection obliges educators to reckon with profound new set of educational choices. Schools must overcome their reluctance to get involved and their fear of offending religious constituencies and give…

Addressing the needs of active learners calls for a total rethinking of students and teachers; why, how, where, when, and what teachers teach; who governs and pays for schools; and the role of technology and professional development. (Author)

Most adults would agree that the AIDS threat has reached crisis proportions and that strong measures are required to control the spread of HIV among adolescents. Although abstinence offers the best protection, teens exposed to risks must protect themselves with knowledge, skills, and access to latex condoms. High school condom distribution is…

A Wisconsin study of single-parent children in the seventh and eighth grades revealed four general areas of need: stability and structure, acceptance, adult attention, and parental involvement. Parents felt that the parenting role should be left to them and that schools should limit out-of-school projects and educate their children by providing…

To reach out to homeless and castoff children, educators must understand how street life affects youngsters' classroom behavior and learning ability. Many homeless and runaway youth come from backgrounds that include unstable families, early deprivation, and abuse. Tips for overcoming barriers to educating such children are outlined, along with…

The rule of thumb for combating violence in school is to remove its antecedents whenever possible and train staff to handle aggressive behavior. School staff should be knowledgeable; join forces with community leaders, police, and parents; implement antigang curricula; treat each student respectfully; and make the school a safe haven. Sidebars…

A group of staff and parents in a Pennsylvania community developed a district strategic plan stressing character education. The original study group found three reasons for involving schools, including schools' historical commitment to character development, recognition of values education as an intrinsic part of teaching, and increasing crime and…

Instead of blaming student academic failure on socioeconomic background, practitioners must identify school-related variables predicting dropouts in their own school. Educators should identify every student dropout during the past five years; examine cumulative folders for grades, absenteeism, and other factors; identify common predictors; and…

Eastern Michigan University's logo depicting a Huron Indian was discontinued in response to concern about use of American-Indian names and symbols. The process of developing a new logo design compatible with institutional values and goals illustrated that moral indifference in integrity and values is antithetical to institutional mission. (MSE)

Parents' efforts to help their children learn are more important to academic success than the family's economic well-being. This article describes recent research affirming the importance of parent-school involvement and outlines strategies for removing barriers, weighing model programs, and constructing a program that stresses open communications…

The United States is experiencing a revived interest in character education, responding to the public's perception of a moral decline in America's sociocultural life. Educators are responsible for becoming attuned to their schools' moral atmosphere and for setting a tone that positively motivates the entire school community. (13 references) (MLH)

The U.S. Supreme Court decided that quadraplegics like Garret F. cannot enter the schoolhouse gate without supportive medical services--vastly different from ordinary nursing services. Are there limits to what government should provide for disabled students? This new responsibility level poses problems for schools and confounds Congress's original…

In "Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garrett F." (1999), the U.S. Supreme Court decided that continuous nursing constitutes a "related service" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The case involved a 16-year-old who has been paralyzed since early childhood. Cost per student could be $20,000 to…

Peer rejection often goes ignored or undetected by teachers and counselors. Labeling theory underscores the seriousness of this problem by illustrating interactional sequences that lead to self-fulfilling prophecy effects. Grouping potential labelers and peer-rejected children together to discuss common problems, creating positive labels for…

In a case involving an injured football player, an 11th Circuit judge viewed a coach's refusal to stop a fight as corporal punishment. Federal courts in five circuits have ruled that excessive corporal punishment violates the Due Process Clause if it is so brutal and harmful that it shocks the court's conscience. (MLH)