To improve resource room students' attitudes toward education, a teacher identified model special education students who could supply peer support and asked them to serve on a panel. The panel responded to students' questions about problems associated with being in resource classes and about setting and achieving reasonable goals. (JDD)

Evaluated the educational, psychological, and medical literature that addressed emotional difficulties and behavioral problems in students. Determined that the lack of consensus on the terms used to describe the problem prevented accurate assessment of its prevalence. Concludes that low-cost, gate-keeping mechanisms are needed to facilitate early…

Describes one school district's formal transition program in which both the middle school and the high school work with parents and students to help students adjust smoothly to high school scheduling and academics. The program includes a mentor program in which high school students serve as peer counselors and guides for incoming freshmen, and a…

In recent years, there has been much research on bullying in the United Kingdom. In 1990, the author, a school counselor and teacher, organized an antibullying workshop at a large secondary school. Since then, the school has been developing a schoolwide antibullying policy comprising various strategies, including an antibullying contract and a…

This report evaluates the second and third years of conflict resolution programs that were established at both the elementary and secondary levels during the 1991-92 school year. The programs emphasized peer mediation, in which students in conflict meet with a pair of students trained in mediation skills. The mediators attempt to open…

The Austin (Texas) Independent School District (AISD) received monies to combat drug and alcohol abuse on its campuses through the Drug-Free Schools and Communities (DFSC) Act of 1986. Each year, programs funded and services purchased with these funds have changed. In 1990-91 most of the DFSC monies were used for these projects: the Secondary…

The Wisconsin Workplace Partnership Literacy (WPL) Program provided job-specific basic skills education to employees at 11 worksites. A total of 1,441 employees were recruited to participate in on-site competency-based educational activities to upgrade their basic skills sufficiently for job retention or advancement. Participants were encouraged…

This survey explores community service programs involving early adolescents. School-based programs are emphasized. The following programs were selected as models of appropriate service learning and are described in detail: (1) Friendly PEERsuasion, a peer tutoring program in Arlington (Texas); (2) The Peer Counseling Program in Oakland…

A report is given on a collaborative effort by Ohio State Univerisity's College of Education, the Columbus School District, and the Columbus Education Association which was developed to implement the Holmes Group reform agenda. The agreement covers services such as field experience sites experimental settings, cooperating teachers, and…

This comprehensive bibliography, designed for those in self-help and paraprofessional practice, is organized around five major topics: (1) Community Mental Health and Community Psychology (100 pages); (2) Counseling Psychology; Counselor and Higher Education (65 pages); (3) Social Work and Social Services (22 pages); (4) New Careers: Career and…

Focusing on the interpersonal communication course offered at Golden West College in California, this paper describes the competency-based approach of the course, the involvement of peer tutor/evaluators, and the use of the speech laboratory, where students demonstrate six specific skill competencies an average of two times during the course. The…

A dropout prevention program was developed to address the needs of middle school alternative students, those students who have been labeled as severely disruptive and who fall into the high-risk category for potential dropouts. Many of the students have a history of physical violence, abusive language, truancy, and police arrests or juvenile…

In this experimental orientation program, peer groups work with potential high school freshmen while they are still in the eighth grade, so that transition to high school will be easier. Groups consisting of two student leaders, and 10 to 15 eighth graders, meet for three 45-minute sessions, and engage in various orientation, visiting day, and…

This paper describes a program for memory strengthening for older adults which combines lectures by experts with small group discussions. The importance of peer counselor involvement, particularly in focusing on the concerns of older people and the most effective ways to address these concerns is emphasized. Program objectives, session topics, and…

A preventive program in the area of identity formation, offered in the form of two-credit academic courses, is presented. A theoretical framework, based on the work of Marcia and his collaborators, delineates four identity "statuses" based on whether the individual has considered various alternatives and then made a commitment to a particular…