Examined the ecology of "free gym" as it occurred in both school lunch hour and after school community settings. Data collected on urban high school students revealed a student imposed hierarchy dominated by skilled male African American basketball players. Status was gained through what occurred within the free gym ecology. Few students…

Evaluated student participation in structured, on-campus extracurricular activities at 24 middle schools. Overall, boys and girls participated at similar rates (except for intramurals). All schools offered multiple extracurricular activity programs, but due to low participation rates, the amount of physical activity obtained was minimal.…

Explores the perceptions of gifted girls with regard to how the family, home, and school environments influenced their choices to take extracurricular science classes. Uses qualitative and quantitative methods to measure girls' attitudes toward science. Specifically addresses gender differences of gifted girls and women in engineering. (Contains…

States that schools should think twice before adopting a random drug-testing program for students involved in extracurricular activities even though the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in "Board of Education v. Earls" upheld its constitutionality. Briefly describes dissenting opinions in "Earls" and opposition to drug testing…

Guidelines are offered for starting and maintaining a Science Club to stimulate gifted elementary students. Specific suggestions for organizing the club, planning a "whizbang" first meeting, and possible topics and activities are offered. (DB)

Student activities professionals must determine whether students' wants are also true needs. A six-step needs assessment method modified from Kaufman's method is presented, and ways to conduct a needs assessment are identified. (MLW)

A review of changes in campus recreational activities in the past three decades looks at the emerging artists, the kinds of performers they were and their messages to students, and the social, political, and economic forces shaping their popularity. (MSE)

Changing demographics on college campuses have called for corresponding changes and re-evaluations in campus activities programing. Program boards increasingly find themselves dealing with "alternative" programing. Some ideas for programing are presented. (MLW)

College athletic participants and nonparticipants (n=651) were compared to determine whether participating in intercollegiate athletics affected self-esteem. College attendance was shown to have positive effect but was only significant in the senior year for participants. College athletic participation appeared to be one of many college…

Suggests that extracurricular activities have come about in part to appease the guilt of English teachers who, though in love with language, have had to do horrible things to it to meet institutional needs. Reviews the redeeming qualities of student newspapers and drama projects. (TB)

Although teachers at a Denver middle school are divided over expectations for handling extracurricular activities, stark reality pushes many teachers to be there for students. Teacher volunteers manage many extras, including basketball and soccer teams, a history-of-teen-fashion video, a grant to update an antiquated library, a Pennies for…

Describes the first three years of an after-school "Writers' Club" at Orchard Park High School, New York. Notes that the "one woman show" evolved into a chartered activity with three student directors. (RS)

Describes extracurricular activities assigned to beginning Spanish students to enhance their powers of observation and reflection. These tasks involve speaking, writing, and translating and allow the students to take the language outside the classroom compartment. (Author/CK)

Examined whether there were significant differences in interpersonal values among students relative to their intensity level of involvement in extracurricular activities. Findings from 181 college students revealed that students who were moderately involved in extracurricular activities displayed a pattern of interdependence, whereas those…

Higher education has much potential for developing a sense of community and for modeling community behavior and leadership. However, it will not be accomplished by top-down leadership with a fixed vision and focus on ends rather than means. It will require leadership that embodies 10 basic principles of community. (MSE)