The Employers' Child Care Alliance, a group of major employers in Lee County, Alabama, developed the "Bridges" program, an innovative program for children ages 10-14 during out-of-school time. The program focuses on the growth of the whole child, specifically in areas not traditionally focused on in school, such as creative development, cultural…

This study investigated the processes and outcomes of family decision-making during children's transition from late childhood to adolescence. Members of 28 one-parent families and 40 two-parent families completed four decision tasks independently, then as a family. Decision tasks concerned selecting a bicycle, a snack, a movie, and a camp for the…

Two experiments were conducted to determine the relative importance of style of movement versus physical appearance in person recognition. The first study investigated the capabilities of young children and adults to recognize target individuals' styles or manners of movement and to distinguish between people when their faces were not visible. A…

Since 1983 the Health Education Authority Schools Education Unit has been providing a survey service to schools throughout the United Kingdom. The purpose is to make the planning of programs in Health and Social Education in the schools more realistic. Health behaviors in the areas of substance use, dental care, diet, homework, jobs, leisure,…

The Walking Advisement program at Crittenden Middle School in Armonk, New York was started during the 1984-1985 school year. It was based on the work of Alfred Arth, a middle school specialist at the University of Wyoming. Essentially, the program attempts to expand the guidance function of the school by bringing faculty and students together to…

Additive and interactive models of attitudes and normative beliefs were compared in a survey of smoking, drinking, and drug use among post-primary students from Dublin, Ireland. It was hypothesized that contingent consistency interactions would be found: (1) when predicting drug use, but not smoking or alcohol use; (2) for younger, but not older…

The essential elements of middle school education are defined in this position paper. After a brief introduction, the pamphlet describes middle schools' rationale, which is based on the uniqueness of "transescence," the period from age 10 to 14 when children are making the transition from childhood to full adolescence. The major…

A study is reported in which 7 children (2 girls and 5 boys, 11 to 12 years of age) with a year of LOGO Programming experience were asked to think aloud about how a LOGO procedure would work, and then to predict by hand-simulation of the programs, what the graphics turtle "pen" would draw when the program was executed. While all children…

Discusses middle schools' phenomenal growth over the past 20 years. Compared with junior high schools, middle schools provide better transition between elementary and high school, offer broader and more flexible programs, and focus on early adolescent needs. Problems of identity and inadequate teacher education are also discussed. Includes 32…

Investigates childhood and adolescent career aspirations of a sample of white, middle to upper class girls. In childhood, those aspiring to male-dominated careers were somewhat older and more tomboyish, had higher IQs and more educated parents. As adolescents they had higher educational aspirations, and were less likely to anticipate being married…

Examines views of the work world held by children and adolescents who have experienced two types of economic conditions: (1) direct exposure to an unemployed father and (2) indirect exposure to negative economic conditions of the community. Results indicate communitywide economic conditions influence young people's views of the work world more…

Examines 9- to 11-year-old dyslexic children's object naming problems and concludes that they are subject to verbal naming difficulties which cannot be accounted for by generally low levels of vocabulary knowledge. Attributes these difficulties to lexical-phonological representation of spoken words they know. (RS)

Studied the onset of puberty in girls aged nine to eleven as represented by breast, pubic hair growth, and height. Breast growth, but not pubic hair growth was associated with a positive body image, positive peer relationships, and superior adjustment. Height was linked to superior adjustment and rating of career as important. (RJC)

Discusses how myth may be applied in the classroom to the reading of a popular novel, Felice Holman's "Slake's Limbo." (MM)

Discusses two books, "The Young Unicorns" (M. L'Engle) and "M.C. Higgins, The Great" (V. Hamilton), that give honest portrayals of life. Suggests each will stimulate preadolescents to examine their own lives. (ARH)