Discusses the role of judgments and the teacher as judge in the classroom. Describes how judgments may be communicated through the written word, with emphasis on judgments communicated via school records. (RJC)

All planning approaches require a result to be assessed. Images of the planning-implementation cycle's success or failure influence the planning process itself. This article attempts to identify the components that determine success and failure thresholds, develop a success-failure framework, apply the framework to analyze some basic planning…

Research documents that attributions of failure resulting from lack of ability result in less punishment from others than do ascriptions to lack of effort. This paper provides a conceptual analysis of these empirical findings, guided by a taxonomy of causal thinking. Process and functional understandings of achievement strivings are distinguished.…

Effectiveness of organizational training and development (T&D) hinges on three factors: (1) relationship of T&D to the organizational culture; (2) management practices that cause training to flourish or fail; and (3) extent of awareness that T&D should be integrated into strategic planning processes. (SK)

Four types of program failure are (1) termination before implementing a planned program; (2) insufficient enrollment; (3) failure to meet participant expectations; and (4) failure to achieve objectives. Speculations about probable causes of failure can lead to principles for improving practice and to theories about program failure. (SK)

Reports the findings in two dyslexic brothers each of whom showed a marked improvement in reading facility when reading print material either through a semitransparent tinted plastic sheet (overlay) or through tinted spectacle lenses. (MG)

Offers five responses to Pamela Carroll's article, "'i cant read i wont read': Will's Moment of Success" in the same issue of this journal. (PRA)

Discusses creativity as an essential component of effective library management. Creative organizations are characterized as encouraging staff to take calculated risks and tolerating their failures; structuring work groups to maximize creativity; investing in staff development; providing adequate resources for programs and staff; and hiring highly…

Reviews research on minority school failure. Contrasts work of microethnographers, which has resulted in"cultural difference" explanations, with more comprehensive work of Ogbu, who advocates a multilevel macroethnographic approach. Describes research in South Texas that does not support certain aspects of Ogbu's caste theory. Advocates…

A theory is presented explaining some gifted students' tendency to underachieve after showing promise in younger years. It is argued that reductions from originally high levels of empowerment and support from parents may cause reduced academic effort and performance. Guidelines for avoiding this pitfall while empowering children are offered. (PB)

Describes how basal readers manufacture reading failures among students from less-privileged economic and social backgrounds. Reviews the history of reading instruction in the United States. Calls for educators to speak out against reading practices that protect the privilege of the upper and upper-middle classes by encoding their values and…

Examines the complex social and educational problem of school failure in Portugal. Defines school failure's place within the Portuguese educational system and traces its causes. Explores forms of assessment in elementary and secondary education, analyzing them in terms of student achievement rates and dropout rates. Discusses measures currently…

Reviews the definition of failure to thrive (FTT) and its relationship to theories of child development as FTT is an early physical marker of risk with long-term consequences. These children are often eligible for services through PL99-457, and psychologists can play an integral role in multidisciplinary evaluation and on intervention team.…

Describes Project ACHIEVE, a comprehensive reform process focused on helping schools deal more effectively with at-risk and underachieving students. Presents the seven components of the project, three-year implementation process, systems-level data, and impact on one elementary school. Describes results from multiple systems, teacher, student, and…

Examines contributions of academia to widespread underperformance and failure in information technology investments. Cites the dominance of economic-technological considerations over human-organizational ones. Concludes that interdisciplinary collaboration and dialog are needed to integrate the knowledge and expertise of information technology and…