This paper discusses the socialization within the family and school in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations. It examines the characteristics of Caribbean families, citing the effects of high levels of poverty and teenage pregnancy on family life. Child rearing practices, especially among the lower-class, emphasize discipline, corporal punishment,…

This paper presents personal reflections on the nature of learning and the purpose of schooling and their implications for defining the work of professional development schools (PDSs). The paper examines the implications of intuitive learning, differences in learning, and political aspects of learning theory for professional development schools.…

The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation commissioned a survey on environmental attitudes and behaviors of disadvantaged youth in America to identify the critical gaps in environmental education so that resources can be targeted more effectively. Phase 1 consisted of qualitative research among disadvantaged students through…

Designed as a guide to conducting informal evaluations of middle school programs, the nine sections of this booklet review current thinking on issues of evaluation and offer sample questions to be considered by school evaluation teams. Following introductory materials, the first section reviews the benefits to conducting evaluations of…

Children and adolescents who succeed have specific assets in their lives--developmental assets, such as family support and self-esteem. The more assets young people have, the less likely they are to lose their way and get into trouble. Based on nationwide studies of children in grades 6 through 12, this book spells out 40 assets that help children…

This study examined Bulgarian students', teachers', and parents' attitudes toward children's rights to education as set forth in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The data come from a pilot micro-project on respecting and promoting the child's right to education in the present Bulgarian socioeconomic context. The project…

In the face of an unprecedented increase in school crime and violence, this book addresses school crime as a two-dimensional issue consisting of the problem of crime in schools and the role of schools in preventing delinquency and dealing with delinquent students. This book reviews the theories that attempt to explain the relationships among…

This monograph describes the basic physical/neurological examination of children with special needs and how such an exam fits into the multidisciplinary evaluation and development of individualized programming for such children. The first section addresses the importance of the medical history. Next, the basic exam is described, followed by…

This booklet addresses the issues involved in working with children and adolescents who have disabling conditions and use alcohol and other drugs. An introductory chapter notes the need for increasing attention to alcohol and drug problems among individuals with disabling conditions. The second chapter provides evidence suggesting that the…

This paper attempts to provide: (1) a clear mental image of the concept of a professional development school (PDS); (2) a clear understanding of a number of standards to be considered as guides during the decision-making process which goes on as a PDS is designed and implemented; and (3) insights gained from dialogues with faculty members of a…

This publication, the second in a series of three monographs on solutions to the dropout problem in Canada, adopts the view that the "cracks" in human services systems could be "mortared" at the level of local schools with services and programs that include academic, social, emotional, and vocational elements. The monograph acknowledges that…

A study assessed the professional and educational status of the day care and Head Start personnel employed in South Carolina Health and Human Service Finance Commission early childhood programs. A total of 1,200 leadership surveys were mailed to employees of state day care and Head Start programs; 277 completed surveys were returned. The survey…

This paper addresses the role of the classroom in bringing students of different backgrounds together and the role of the teacher in creating an atmosphere in which students not only get along well with each other, but also develop respect and appreciation that they carry with them outside of school. There is a need to create an atmosphere of…

This ethnographic study describes the engagement of black students at "Midsouth State University" (MSU) using Pace's (1978) concept of areas of effort. Further, comparisons are made between the black students at MSU and Fleming's (1984) findings concerning black student perceptions in other predominately white institutions located in the…

The question of what schools should do about individual differences among learners is discussed with reference to the cognitive theories of Piaget. Historically, teachers were not expected to adjust to individual differences; the child who could not adapt was at fault. Around the turn of the present century, educators began to turn their attention…