The relationship between status categories and extracurricular activities in a suburban, middle-class, junior high school is examined. An account is given of what happens when a "burnout" girl (someone at the bottom of the prestige hierarchy) is selected as cheerleader, thus violating the assumptions in American culture that serve as the…

Pressured by religious conservatives, Congress passed the Equal Access Act (1984), allowing secondary school students the right to form on-campus extracurricular religious and other clubs. Recently, a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at a southern California high school was granted court protection under this statute, despite the community's objections.…

How much do noninstructional minutes in a school day cost? Principals can figure out how many "mission minutes" it takes to hold an assembly or other activity, what it costs, and whether it is worth it. For instance, using clerical labor for registration is cheaper than having students do it. (MLH)

Investigated the relationship between participation in school and non-school based extracurricular activities and peer influence on adolescent substance use. Surveys of 3,189 11th graders from 33 midwestern high schools indicated that while school and non-school based extracurricular activities significantly influenced substance use, peer…

With home schooling legal everywhere and many home-schoolers reaching high school age, state legislatures are considering whether and how to encourage "mix-and-match" schooling. In some areas, discussion centers on access to academic classes only. In others, attention is on eligibility to participate in sports or extracurricular…

Argues that it is important to understand parents' attitudes and perceptions of extracurricular activities to promote their involvement in them. Shows that parents in Hong Kong view extracurricular activities favorably but are more willing to invest their money than their time in promoting them. Makes suggestions for policy formation. (DSK)

Using research conducted at an urban youth theater program, this paper demonstrates how young artists play organizational roles and act with a sense of agency comparable to that of the corporate world. The paper helps those working in school- and community-based after-school programs see new partnerships and programs as both possible and…

Discusses the importance of out-of-class activities on positive student outcomes, focusing on ways to improve the involvement of students with disabilities with campus life activities, experiential learning, study abroad, and sports and recreation. Maintains that it is the responsibility of student affairs professionals to ensure that students…

A survey of undergraduate students (n=473) from a small liberal arts university evaluated several independent variables (gender, community service, membership in campus organizations, and out-of-class experiences) in terms of goals associated with a liberal education. Analysis indicated that gender and type of extramural activities (i.e., student…

Discusses guidelines for music educators when scheduling conflicts occur involving curricular music performances, both during and after school, by musical groups that practice during school hours. Provides justification for regular attendance and addresses why directors should be flexible in certain cases. Offers the Scheduling-Conflict Resolution…

To help keep students alcohol- and drug-free, some principals have extended local school policies beyond campus boundaries. Before proceeding, principals must consider who should frame the policy, appropriate verification procedures, policy parameters, and policy initiation particulars. A Maryland high school's cocurricular participation contract…

Compared weekly activities among four groups of high risk and typical high school students: potential dropouts at suicide risk; typical youth at suicide risk; potential dropouts not at suicide risk; and typical youth not at suicide risk. Of the 1,286 participants, 39.4% of high risk and 30.1% of typical high school students screened in at suicide…

The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the associations between a variety of measures of extracurricular participation and indicators of youth development. We use data from the Childhood and Beyond Study, a larger longitudinal study of adolescent development. The sample is primarily White middle-class adolescents in Grades 7…

This exploratory study examines self-reported acts of academic dishonesty for a sample of 858 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on a small college campus (8,350 students). The study raises awareness to the occurrences, and challenges of academic dishonesty at small-sized institutions, somewhat overlooked in empirical research.…

In this paper, the authors discuss the new academic eligibility policy for at-risk students of Cato-Meridian, a small rural school district in New York State. The traditional eligibility policy that was in place at Cato-Meridian and surrounding school districts required student athletes to pass all but two of their courses. If they failed two…