Examined the link between early childhood teacher beliefs measured through a self-report questionnaire and behaviors assessed with four observational measures via videotape. Found that there was no relationship between teachers' beliefs and actions. When teachers had more experience with children, they were less sensitive. Early childhood teaching…

Describes several cases involving the sexual abuse of students by teachers and other staff members; suggests ways school districts can protect their students from abusive staff members, especially pedophiles. (PKP)

Describes how two self described "optimistic feminist teachers" soon realized how difficult it is to combat elementary students' ingrained views of gender and power roles. Explores how creative drama could be used to explore gender assumptions, and which pedagogical techniques can help prevent gender bias in the classroom. Notes the teachers…

Describes the author's experiences teaching Girl Scouts writing and poetry. Concludes that she learned many crucial lessons from her students including lessons on power relations in the classroom, on communication across cultural and even generational divides, and on the varieties of poetry that can be made by the varieties of imaginative…

Compares value education, critical thinking, moral development, and critical pedagogy. States that teachers' values are expressed in instructional content and methods. Urges teachers to balance expressing their own values and exposing students to different perspectives. (SK)

Registered nurses in a bachelor's degree program (n=56) rated the following as important clinical teacher behaviors: evaluation, professional competence, interpersonal relationship, and teaching ability. They valued teachers who were approachable, fair, open, and honest and who fostered mutual respect. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

Uses a formative experiment design to learn about ways in which a teacher used questioning strategies to help students expand their intertextual boundaries during discussions about literature. Concludes that the use of a questioning framework such as the Directed Reading-Connecting Activity helps teachers organize their thoughts before discussions…

Adopts a cross-cultural approach to understand contexts in which young children become familiar with literacy. Notes that early years practitioners in Singapore, Australia, France, and England responded to questionnaires, were observed in action and interviewed. Finds that learning experiences practitioners provided for children were influenced by…

Codes of ethics are one of the important hallmarks of a profession. Along with prolonged training, specialized knowledge, and rites of passage, a code is one of the criteria that sets professionals apart from other workers (Katz & Ward, 1991). Literature describing the current focus on ethics in the workplace invariably describes codes addressing…

This article reports two studies on teacher confirmation. The first examined (1) students' feelings of confirmation or disconfirmation as a function of perceived teacher behaviors, and (2) whether teacher confirmation behaviors occur in hierarchically arranged clusters. Sixty-one percent of the variance in students' feelings of confirmation was…

This paper examines the evolving Canadian jurisprudence at the appellate court level to outline the emerging definition--what is termed the "judicial construction"--of the role of the teacher. "Judicial construction" is a phrase intended to capture the attribution by judges of the social and educational significance of…

In this reflection on a personal history and growth of a gay teacher, there is clear line in the episodes ranging from closeted teacher to educational activist. As written from the perspective of the teacher itself, Gregory focuses mainly on his integrity, which makes it essentially a personal narrative, although the writer takes some steps back…

It happens every day across the nation: Teachers welcome their students to class by saying, "Good morning, boys and girls." It is one of countless ways teachers highlight gender with their speech and behavior. Unfortunately, teachers' use of gender to label students and organize the classroom can have negative consequences. New research in the…

"Harvard Education Letter" is published bimonthly by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This issue of "Harvard Education Letter" contains the following articles: (1) Meeting of the Minds: The Parent-Teacher Conference Is the Cornerstone of School-Home Relations. How Can It Work for All Families? (Laura Pappano); (2) In Search of That "Third…

Opponents of school choice argue that private schools are not "accountable" because they are not subject to detailed oversight by a regulatory bureaucracy. They claim private school employees can be expected to engage in abusive and criminal behavior more frequently. School choice supporters respond that parents hold private schools…