Reports a study that examined the relationship between high school students' smoking under stress, psychological distress, and social support. Survey data indicated that white students were more likely to engage in stress-related smoking than black students, as were adolescents with higher psychological distress and lower social support scores.…

Examines the combined effects of race and gender on teachers' perceptions of students' social behaviors. Responses from 984 black and white teachers who rated 6- to 11-year-old black and white children suggest teachers' perceptions are predicted by race and gender. Positive perceptions generally aligned themselves according to teachers' race and…

Using the Revised Behavioral Checklist, teachers rated at-risk adolescents from an urban alternative school. Researchers compared these students to normal and severely emotionally disturbed (SED) children in order to develop a definition of at-risk students. Results indicated that at-risk students differed significantly from normal children,…

Describes evolving efforts to promote African American children's social and emotional competencies, examining moral competence. Proposes a cultural psychology framework to highlight the theme of communalism and morality of care. Identifies various moral events, offering knowledge of moral emotions and moral self-efficacy as key constructs.…

Analyzed data from the National Alternative High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey to determine the prevalence of substance use on school property. Males were more likely than females and white students more likely than black or Hispanic students to have used substances on school property. Results suggest improving strategies for reducing…

When the authors wanted to combat the myth that excessive drinking and partying were common behaviors among students, they turned for help to a recent popular book on marketing and social behavior. The result was a trial project that identified and recruited the most influential students on campus, then set them loose to get the message out.…

Examines the patterns of individual adjustment changes in a sample of 99 early adolescents during an ecological transition from elementary school to middle school. Shows significant changes in adjustment as indicated by increased psychological distress or decreased academic achievement. Examines gender differences. Presents implications for…

Surveyed teachers and their students from East and West Berlin, examining whether liberal teachers were producing violent, right-wing youth, primarily due to permissive teaching style. Results found that liberal and permissive teachers did not produce such students. Teachers who emphasized a universalistic, pluralistic political value conviction,…

Examined the relationship between self-esteem and smoking behavior among Japanese elementary and junior high school students. Surveys of students indicated that those who had never smoked had higher cognitive, family, and global self-esteem but lower physical self-esteem than did smokers. Grade and gender were significantly related to self-esteem,…

Examines drug use and eating behaviors of northern Nevadan adolescents (N=401). Results indicate that high-risk users less frequently ate lunch, meals at home, or with their family and ate more often at convenience stores, fast food restaurants, or with their friends. Gender differences are examined. Implications for prevention programming and…

Overviews challenges that rural educators face in meeting the diverse needs of students. A case study illustrates key elements of creating a positive behavior support plan: establishing a collaborative problem-solving team, determining the student's strengths, identifying the purpose of the negative behavior, identifying prevention strategies,…

Examined the effects of individual characteristics and types of parental involvement on participation in advanced mathematics from grades 8-12. Data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth indicated that mathematics participants had higher socioeconomic status than dropouts at every grade level. Gender, attitude, and achievement affected…

Evaluated the stratification or dispersion of first grade teachers' perceptions of children's competence as a moderator of the relationship between teachers' and parents' perceptions of individual children's competence. Found that greater stratification predicted teachers' perceptions of less child competence and predicted less change in teachers'…

Examined the association of work-related skills--such as listening skills, cooperation, self-control--to academic outcomes at kindergarten entry and end of second grade. Found that work-related skills predicted variance in academic outcomes at both times, after kindergarten academic score and background variables were controlled. Children with…

States that teaching students responsible behavior is as important as teaching them respectful behavior. Asserts that respectful behavior is not synonymous with compliance, and that school teachers and administrators should make this distinction clear. Defines "respect,""being respectful," and "responsibility." (NB)