Maintains that standardized testing undermines efforts for quality teaching and learning in public schools. Discusses the misconceptions behind the focus on testing and why testing does not improve student achievement or schools. Reviews the efforts and sacrifices teachers, parents, and students have made in resisting standardized testing. (CMK)

Discusses the five major concerns that govern a school nurse's thinking in managing head louse infestations, including dispelling misconceptions about head lice; ensuring that infestations are not missed; ensuring that parents understand instructions for effective treatment; educating the community about the correct use of pediculicides; and…

Program materials used in more than half the U.S. counties that have court-connected educational programs for divorcing parents are reviewed. Sources of materials, conceptual foundations, topics presented, teaching strategies, and evaluation efforts are studied. Results and recommendations for design of programs are discussed. Program review form…

Compares the family-centeredness of East and West Berliners with primary school-aged children shortly after the breakdown of East Germany by examining parental attitudes regarding friendship among children. Observes that while parents in East Berlin exerted greater control than those in West Berlin, children's integration into their extrafamilial…

Explores the role of observed parental affect and encouragement in children's empathy-related responding and moral behavior, specifically cheating on a puzzle activity. Finds that (1) parents' affect and encouragement positively related to children's sympathy (not empathy) and (2) boys' cheating on the puzzle correlated to parents' affect and…

A study involving 26 toddlers used an observational procedure, the Box Task, to elicit non-self-regulatory behavior. Both mothers' and fathers' interaction was found to be related to children's behavior. For mothers, synchrony of interaction most strongly predicted internalizing behavior, whereas for fathers, focus on control and direction style…

Explains how parents can help their middle school students cope with cliques and find a sense of belonging in a healthy, positive way. This includes helping them identify the school's social hierarchy (the popular group, fringe group, friendship circles, and loners); discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each group; and helping them…

This paper explores elements of interagency cooperation through a case study of one family in Australia with a severely disabled child over a two-year period. It critically examines strengths and weaknesses of interagency communication and the role of the parent in coordinating a variety of medical, educational, therapeutic, and child-care…

Kindergarten and child care center supervisors in Singapore completed questionnaires about their programs and about the competency of children in their program who were bilingual in English and Mandarin. Parents completed a questionnaire about the home environment. Found that parents' provision of language enrichment materials for their children…

Compared 48 immigrant Chinese and 50 European American mothers of preschool-age children on their perspectives on the role of parenting in their children's school success. Findings reveal Chinese immigrants have a high regard for education and a belief in a strong parental role, while European Americans regard social skills and self-esteem of…

Surveyed how children or parents derived benefits from early childhood intervention programs for low-income families. Found that such programs provide appropriate and stimulating learning environments for young children and support the roles of parents. Participants have higher academic achievement and parents made positive changes in their own…

Examined 71 teenage African American mothers' experiences with their biological fathers, using in-depth life history interviews. Found three prevalent themes: fathers' residential history, father-daughter activity or interaction during more than one phase of daughter's life; and emotional tone and feelings about fathers. Results suggest…

Claims that children of parents in the military services have adapted to parental separation as parents balance the demands of family and job responsibility. Compares the psychosocial functioning of children who have experienced extended maternal separation with that exhibited by children who have separated from their fathers. Addresses…

Examines why fathers tend to be underrepresented in research on child and family functioning. Recommendations for encouraging more nonsexist family research that includes both mothers and fathers are explored, and the implications for the inclusion of fathers in prevention and clinical interventions are discussed. (GR)

Discusses the proportion of mothers who act protectively following disclosure of child sexual abuse and what factors are associated with maternal nonprotectiveness. In a sample of 118 cases of intrafamilial child sexual abuse it was found that 57% of mothers separated from the perpetrators, two-thirds were supportive of their children, and 52% did…