In a survey of the nation's nearly 1100 junior colleges, and with a response of nearly 90 percent, the following statistical evidence was derived concerning journalism programs: of the 936 junior colleges responding to the survey, 553 (59%) reported offering some journalism instruction; 207 of these 553 schools (37%) employ a journalism teacher…

Previous research has emphasized the reliability and the validity of peer ratings. However, the cognitive and affective impacts of peer evaluations within specific academic disciplines is lacking. The present study explored the impact of peer group evaluations on student attitudes toward the basic speech course and student achievement on speech…

This report analyzes current public education policies, procedures, and practices that compound racial inequities by profiling students of color. Such practices divert resources away from proven solutions that advance academic excellence. Bias in high-stakes testing serves to increase student achievement gaps. Zero-tolerance and maximum-security…

In fall 2000, all 3,506 superintendents in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin received a survey that asked them to report on the strategies they had implemented to attract and retain teachers and on how effective those strategies had been. The survey was designed to collect basic information about a variety of…

This report examines performance differences between Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White students in Delaware on the mathematics portion of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study-Repeat (TIMSS-R). Data analyses show that the mathematics performance gap across ethnic groups is significant. The lowest 100 Black and White performers were…

Elementary teachers' attitudes towards science and their confidence to teach it have for some time been identified as important in determining both the quality and quantity of science taught to children. Attitudes and confidence are influenced greatly by the teachers' own experiences as learners of science. This paper reports on a longitudinal…

Information on test-takers collected at the time of examinations provides a rich description of AP students, but what are the characteristics of their teachers? The current study provides a glimpse into these characteristics by summarizing the results of the largest survey of AP teachers to date (32,109 responses). The AP Teacher Survey contained…

A sociolinguistic analysis of language use among eight preschool children in a bilingual English/Hebrew classroom was conducted to examine the effects of teacher background (U.S. or Israeli born/educated) while interacting with children from bilingual or monolingual backgrounds and teacher's participation (presence or absence) in classroom…

The focus question of this article, why students of color are not entering teaching, is part of a larger study which explored impediments people of color face in their search for an adequate education. The 17 themes that emerged from the minority teachers' responses focused on negative experiences in school, social and economic obstacles, and…

Reports on a study of 18 social studies teachers' concepts of justice. Finds that three dominant themes emerged: (1) justice as right and wrong; (2) justice as fairness; and (3) justice as an ideal or standard. Concludes that responses suggest that social studies teachers' education in political theory may be insufficient. (CFR)

Some sociopolitical contexts of Alaskan schools undermine Yup'ik Eskimo teachers' classroom use of their cultural knowledge and create barriers to their training. Yup'ik leaders have formed a teacher organization that studies traditional language and culture for classroom use. The article examines how those efforts changed classroom practice,…

Examines educational experiences of a student teacher who joined a study of how preservice teachers with little classroom experience make sense out of university coursework. The paper presents the student's personal history, her conclusions about what constitutes good teaching prior to enrolling, and resulting conflicts between research-based and…

Study examined how teachers understand research in light of their prior beliefs about what research is and how it should influence their teaching by questioning 13 teachers about 5 articles they read. Found that many teachers focused on the product of research rather than the main ideas and evidence in support of that product. (MDM)

This study explored how background factors are related to teachers' behaviors. Currently, it is unclear what variable most accurately predicts teaching behaviors; experience, general education, or specialized training. The participants in this study were 47 early childhood educators. Teachers were primarily female and all worked with children aged…

While the prospect of hiring new faculty members can cause significant apprehension for department chairpersons, a number of procedures can be employed to dramatically increase the chances of hiring a truly outstanding faculty member. The most successful searches include a series of well-defined steps moving through pre-search, search, and…