This paper reviews research on social competence in young children, outlining nine factors that influence the development of social competence. These are: (1) positive self-esteem; (2) a positive attitude; (3) active participation; (4) respect for others; (5) effective communication skills; (6) problem-solving ability; (7) an outgoing personality;…

The study reported in this document was conducted to measure the impact of the New Zealand Fire Service's new fire safety program on elementary school students. Firefighters in each fire station and voluntary fire brigade in New Zealand were responsible for arranging a visit to every elementary school within their area to present a learning…

The underlying themes in a successful dropout-prevention program are that it is teacher-led and student-centered. In this, the third National Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE) report, project leaders offer guidelines for developing a successful prevention initiative. Suggestions are made on the following objectives: (1) empower…

The British school system has relative autonomy, and therefore, could be potentially transformative--used to change existing economic and social relations. The correspondence thesis, which states that the schools perpetuate existing capitalist economic and social relations and serve as agents of reproduction, was the dominant paradigm of the last…

A course of direction is charted for the anti-nuclear movement. Concern over the growing nuclear arsenals has grown considerably over the last two years for several reasons, including the educational efforts of several anti-nuclear groups, and the publication of several books, such as Jonathan Schell's "The Fate of the Earth." Until now,…

Alternative schools in public school districts and private institutions offer a choice of more than one educational option to students. These schools usually have some of the following characteristics: voluntary participation, distinctiveness, nonexclusiveness, comprehensive objectives, and a supportive learning environment. Instructional styles…

This digest considers how counselors and educators can cope with the emotional needs of suicide survivors and prevent future suicides among students. It discusses self-destructive tendencies in youth and behavioral manifestations of loss; offers suggestions to counselors for managing the first 48 hours following a suicide or loss and lists…

A liberal education (in which the student is exposed to a variety of different religions, political systems, economic systems, cultures, types of art work, and types of music) helps the student develop an appreciation of all these entities. In college, students are drawn from different states and school districts, and even different parts of the…

This monograph provides an inservice workshop approach that school systems can use to address the needs of students who experience divorce. Questions addressed include: (1) What can school systems do to help students cope with their parents' divorce? (2) What can educators do to create a learning environment that is congenial for children who live…

Education in the United States is currently in the midst of a crisis of purpose. Without a mission, the schools can operate both comprehensively and efficiently, but they cannot be effective. Because the schools cannot clarify what it is they are supposed to do, they can be asked to do whatever anyone wants them to do. With a clear mission, the…

Information is provided concerning efforts to improve institutional arrangements for the transition from school to work of high school graduates. Half of all high school graduates move into the workforce, but the attention given this group is almost always in terms of whether they are academically and vocationally equipped before they leave…

To examine the relationship between society and curriculum, three research projects are analyzed. The first project, Beauchamp and Beauchamp (1967), which attempts to answer the question of how a curriculum comes to be what it is, examined the likenesses and differences in curriculum engineering practices among selected European countries. The…

The 571 secondary schools selected by the United States Department of Education for recognition as exemplary institutions represented urban, suburban and rural communities. The proportions of minority students were not markedly different from the national distribution, nor did the socio-economic status of families with students differ greatly from…

This study looks beyond the individuals who drop out to determine the role of schools in the dropout process. It presents a profile of dropouts including the following characteristics: (1) low socioeconomic status, (2) poor school performances, and (3) in-school delinquency. It also addresses the reasons students give for dropping out. The data…

A study gathered objective data to inform policymakers and the public about the role of the private career school in providing postsecondary vocational training. The universe of the study was made up of state-approved for-profit business, trade, and technical schools and nationally accredited cosmetology schools. A mailed questionnaire gathered…