Alternative high schools have an important place in our educational system, since exellence in education must mean more than improving the abilities of those who are succeeding in our present school environment. A list of suggestions (nine "dos" and four "don'ts") are offered for consideration before establishing such a school. (MCG)

Asserts that programs for the gifted/talented are virtually nonexistent in New Jersey's vocational schools, which serve a large portion of the state's high school population. Lists some of the efforts which will be needed to change this situation. (SJL)

Describes how a high school journalism program dealt with the events on September 11, 2001. Concludes that scholastic journalists will be challenged by this new era, but the mission of journalists and advisers is unchanged--to inform, to explain and to provide a student forum for discussion of the serious issues everyone is facing. (SG)

Successful transition from high school to college for learning disabled students requires specialized support services including the help of a knowledgeable guidance counselor in designing a transition plan which considers student characteristics, communication between educators in each setting, and provision of a primary facilitator to effect…

Best practices for at-risk students include inclusive schools, collaborative teaching, case management, staff development, incentives, support services, parental involvement, and interagency collaboration. (SK)

The ability of debate coaches and instructors to define the goals of their activity is essential to any meaningful evaluation of success in achieving those goals. Much of the criticism of debate rests on the faulty assumption that coaches and instructors agree as to what they are trying to teach students. Numerous writers have addressed the…

Describes Foxfire, a philosophy of education firmly grounded in principles of democratic, experiential education. Discusses how many who attempted to adopt the approach of the Foxfire books without its founding principles obtained traditional, teacher-oriented results. Describes Foxfire's educational practices and major aspects of the staff's work…

Recent emphasis on employment for students labeled mentally retarded has presented new challenges for educators in the design and implementation of high school programs. Promising practices for facilitating the achievement of full employment for these students are suggested, and trends that will influence the manner in which services are provided…

To formulate, justify, and establish priorities for high school debate goals, one must consider only those things that debate can uniquely offer to participating students. The most important goal that debate offers is the development of critical thinking. Educators must continue to develop critical thinkers who can anticipate, discover, and…

High school librarians have the opportunity to educate the majority of the future adult population in the continued use of libraries. This requires a well-defined plan of library-use instruction, interaction with teachers, description of user groups and their informational needs, setting of behavioral objectives, and constant revision of the plan.…

Discusses three trends that may threaten high school journalism: (1) declining student involvement; (2) the switch of journalism programs from curricular to extracurricular activities; and (3) teacher cutbacks. Offers ways to combat these threats. (RL)

Three guiding principles provide the planner of aquatic exercise programs with a model that helps to ensure an effective program: principles of resource availability and allocation; the principle of fit, which involves matching instructor leadership style with program objectives; and the principle of attitude and perception modification. (IAH)

Educational consultants charged by a school district with instituting and overseeing an ongoing experimental program in writing across the curriculum can expect that veteran faculty members will be unwilling to change their teaching styles. A "soft sell" is necessary with reluctant faculty. Senior faculty members who are properly…

There are three systems of ethics applicable to forensics programs. The classical conception borrows from Quintilian's reference to a "good man speaking well." A second approach starts from the context of a democratic society and builds on the principles that should govern a speaker in that setting, among which are the obligation to…

This article addresses assessment in transition services for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. The legislative foundation, purposes, and uses of transition assessment in the middle and high school years are discussed in relation to transition planning. Competencies needed by…