This study investigated whether data collected from coursework and instructor evaluations of student teacher attitude change were adequate measures of change over a semester. Data analysis involved students enrolled in courses taught in fall 2000 at New Jersey City University. Teachers collected students' biographical data and written responses to…

This bulletin is designed to show some of the ways in which successful teachers work with children in order to establish rapport and to guide them into productive and happy living. This bulletin presents in the main a viewpoint based on the belief that if children live in a friendly school environment rich with experiences and materials that…

Traditional norm-referenced measurement has received criticism concerning cultural unfairness. Responses to such accusations primarily have consisted of new instrumentation aimed at a culture-fair assessment. Little response has addressed a conceptual standpoint concerning issues of purpose and use of test results. Although many have turned to…

This study assessed elementary school students' knowledge of upper respiratory tract infection and correlated it with parental socioeconomic status, ethnic background, and school absences. Schools chosen for the study represented different socioeconomic and ethnic populations. Students had a general knowledge of the etiology, symptoms, treatment,…

Four sections discuss multicultural education in Scotland, i.e., historical background; cultural minorities (Gaels, Lowland Scots speakers, Irish, Asian, and others); minority needs within the educational system; and minorities, majorities, and the wider context. (AH)

The value congruence between educators and students, and the effects of this congruence on student achievement were examined with a sample of 360 Mexican American students, 203 non-Mexican American students and 181 educators. The results indicated that value non-congruent students demonstrated higher achievement levels than value congruent…

Results from Biology Cognitive Preference Inventory taken by grade 12 Jewish (N=406) and Arab (N=297) biology majors revealed similarities between cognitive preferences, achievement, and background variables. Reports that, in spite of substantial cultural and home differences, both groups became oriented toward principles/questioning rather than…

Maintains that dropping out of school is more usefully interpreted in social structural terms rather than as an individual psychological event. Reviews research findings to support the argument that schooling reproduces a class-based society by legitimating the social role of the dropout and allocating students to that devalued status. (Author/MJL)

Difficulties experienced by Italian teachers who are employed by the Federal Republic of Germany to teach native Italian pupils their native tongue are described. Suggestions for improving the training of these teachers are given. (PP)

Item difficulty patterns of four groups of nonreferred, average children (ages 7 1/2 and l0 1/2)--Anglos, Blacks, Chicanos and Bermudians--were compared on each of the verbal subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Item difficulty curves were remarkably parallel. (Author/HLM)

Major cultural characteristics of Arab students (high level of affiliation, pattern of contextuality, significance placed on verbal messages, and educational and experiential background) and the dilemmas they face are described and compared with what American universities expect and offer. Suggestions for counseling and other services are offered.…

Describes the experiences of an itinerant ESL/D resource teacher from the Peel Board (Canada) who has covered, over several years, a large number of K-8 and K-13 schools. Discusses problems encountered and offers guidelines for helping minority group students and establishing good relationships with school staffs. (MES)

Recent University of Calgary Indian graduates are returning to their reserves, many as teachers, with a sense of being at home and able to serve. This may be due to Native peoples' need for professional services, students' family background and biculturalism, and pressure by Indian groups for special university programs. (SB)

The Rasch simple logistic model is used to examine the relative item parameter values of a personality inventory with respect to populations cross-classified by sex and country. While items conform to the model within each of the populations, half the items show significant discrepancies among the populations. (Author/RL)

Describes the Mexican American Culture Simulator, a self-instructional module containing 40 incidents based on client-worker misunderstandings resulting from sociocultural differences. The aim of the module is to improve caseworkers' empathic understanding of Mexican American children and families in a manner that supports ethnic identity,…