A task force was appointed by the California School Boards Association to investigate the increase in violence and vandalism and to recommend courses of action. The task force found four changes in society contributing to the increase: (1) the breakdown of the home and family unit, (2) the lack of self-discipline in children and the absence of…

The issue of whether cheating and plagiarism should be categorized as an academic evaluation or disciplinary misconduct is discussed. It is claimed that if these offenses are categorized as disciplinary misconduct, students are entitled to some due process. However, if cheating and plagiarism are classified as academic evaluations, students are…

Discusses the Miscue Reading Inventory and offers an alternative system that keeps its strengths and completeness while eliminating most of its weak points. (FL)

The author reviews the advantages and disadvantages of standardized reading tests, with special reference to the new national reading tests designed by the Assessment of Performance Unit of the Department of Education and Science. (SJL)

The purpose of this booklet is to encourage global action that will protect children from the threat of nuclear war. A number of specific steps are suggested to reduce this threat, including: (1) finding 10 minutes per week to work on an anti-war project; (2) supporting anti-nuclear organizations; (3) joining anti-war organizations; (4) sharing…

Discusses the importance of critical thinking for participation in democratic society and identifies the critical thinking skills tested in the eighth grade California Assessment Program. Provides an extensive appendix detailing a critical thinking skills continuum, a glossary of terms, and classroom strategies. (GEA)

Legal questions, raised by recent developments in computerized networks and relating to censorship, liability, responsibility and other topics, were explored by means of a questionnaire sent to a selected group of librarians, network personnel, and others. Designed to collect information about existing laws and current problems, the questionnaire…

There is a need for more precise descriptions of the claims to truth of standardized tests, of their interpretive authority, and of the limits of understanding which are reached through their processes. Typically minority students who score poorly on such tests do because their schools fail to connect with them. Pedagogy, therefore, must somehow…

Approaches to managing conflict in the collaborative process are discussed, along with the need for collaboration in schools. Collaboration by teachers, administrators, parents, and others can help identify problems, consider relevant data, plan and implement interventions, and evaluate results. However, the knowledge, experience, and values of…

An elementary school librarian initiated a survey of school librarians in Arizona to discover how they dealt with problems in scheduling classes in their media centers and developing curriculum to teach library skills. Results were used to support proposed changes to provide more flexible scheduling and increase teacher/librarian cooperation. (EM)

The importance of learning styles to student retention and career decision guidance is considered. Learning style is the way people process information and solve problems. Research on right and left brain processing, which indicates that the left hemisphere controls thoughts that are predominately rational and the right hemisphere controls…

Discusses problems with access to local government information faced by libraries and by the public. Local government information policies are discussed, information management practices are considered, library services to disseminate government information are suggested, and a checklist for a model local government information policy is included.…

Sport-specific preparticipation examinations do not address social problems (drug abuse, suicide, murder, accidents, and sex) epidemic among teenagers, but they are often the only contact these youth have with a physician. This article discusses these risk factors and presents methods for assessing them during preparticipation exams. (SM)

Reports the results of a survey of Arizona libraries that gathered information on the collection development policies for state and local government publications. Problems that result from not having a depository system for state publications are discussed, cataloging and classification practices are examined, and use of bibliographic utilities…

A questionnaire survey provided data for this study of current ministry guidelines usage in Ontario. The study reveals that while guidelines have frequently been ignored in the past, most school boards are taking current guidelines more seriously. Local curriculum committees have been largely ineffective in implementing and refining ministry…