A survey of financial aid directors at all two-year colleges in four states measured differences between the administrators' desired and actual role functions. Analysis and implications of the results are presented. (MSE)

The mother of a seven-year-old boy with Down's Syndrome describes her feelings as she came to realize that, despite intense early stimulation activities, her son's developmental capabilities were limited. The article also notes that media exposure of the successes of some disabled children sometimes creates unrealistic expectations in parents.…

Discriminant analyses of 439 subjects who were asked to write an account of an achievement of failure, and to describe it in terms of locus of standards, conceptual focus, and initial expectations for success, indicated that cognitions were more readily patterned in terms of achievement domain than sex. (Author/BJV)

Four studies on special education teacher training were conducted: two surveys of individual states' manpower needs, a survey of preservice special education majors, and interviews with special education faculty from five states. Results revealed conflicting perceptions of teaching competencies, mismatches between training and job expectations,…

A survey of 46 college teachers and 72 students identified factors perceived as important in student academic success or failure in college. Another survey of 112 teachers and 392 students compared perceptions of the 2 groups concerning their relative importance. Reasons for and consequences of group differences are examined. (Author/MSE)

The relationships among the teacher's pet phenomenon, students' perceptions of teachers' differential behavior, and students' morale were investigated in 80 Israeli upper elementary classrooms. The intensity of the teacher's pet phenomenon was related to perceived teachers' differential behavior, which, in turn, was negatively related to student…

Presents common-sense approach that teaches principals how to assess themselves and their schools and gives them the authority to implement change. Superintendents need to visit schools at least twice monthly, pose improvement-oriented questions to principals, offer support for school improvement plans. Questions are concerned about defining…

This study, involving 10 children (ages 7-11) attending an English school for children with moderate learning difficulties and their parents, revealed that parents' and teachers' estimates of attainments did not deviate significantly from the scores actually obtained by the children. There was considerable variation between teachers and parents…

The predictive relationship between noncognitive variables, high school mathematics coursework, and admissions test scores with subsequent achievement in college mathematics was investigated. Noncognitive variables were found to be significant predictors of student grade performance in introductory mathematics taken during the first year of…

Current state-of-the-art substance abuse prevention programs are mostly social cognitive theory based. However, there are few publications which review specifically how modeling is applied to adolescent substance abuse prevention programs. This article reviews theoretical considerations for implementing modeling for this purpose. (Author/LKS)

Considered stereotype change within a framework of dual process models. Using three experiments, manipulated task involvement, source credibility, and message quality. Findings proved dual process as appropriate when considering the processing of stereotype-disconfirming information and processing's impact on existing stereotypes. Different…

The trend in campus housing is to make college residence halls as much like apartments as possible, rather than impersonal high-rise dormitories. Older buildings are in favor despite a lack of amenities. Lower cost is a factor. One drawback is that students don't want to leave their rooms to socialize. (MSE)

Data from 129 rural adolescents ranked as minimal, moderate, or substantial risk showed the following: substantially at-risk males had lower aspirations than similar females, females had higher occupational expectation and aspiration, 50% expected occupations significantly lower in prestige than aspired careers; and aspiration and expectation of…

Results of one teacher's interviews with seventh-grade Nevada students who share same team support earlier research on interdisciplinary teaming. Students on Tort team for two years agreed their experience helped them develop closer friendships, anticipate teacher expectations, and feel more secure and less isolated in school. However, students…

A study investigated the relationship between teacher feedback and physical education achievement. Students were pretested, instructed, and posttested. Data on the amount and type of feedback teachers gave students were collected. Results suggest feedback that is corrective, descriptive, prescriptive, or positive or that focuses on skill outcomes…