Discusses failure of the civil war prison at Andersonville in terms of administrative problems. Failure is blamed on lack of clear channels of authority and communications. Correction of these organizational problems laid the groundwork for a system that would meet its goals. A flowchart is presented. (JAC)

Fifth-grade boys of relatively good, average, and poor reading ability were assessed on tasks in which success and failure were manipulated. Consistent with predictions, poor readers displayed characteristics indicative of learned helplessness and low self-concepts of ability, including low expectations and less persistence. (Instructional…

To examine the possibility that teacher variables affect school integration results, this article reviews the literature on minority children and teacher attitudes and behavior. This literature indicates that biased assessments (unfavorable attitudes, qualitatively inferior instructional behavior, and lower expectations) are made of minority or…

An achievement situation describing two children successfully and unsuccessfully performing task in competitive, cooperative, and individualistic reward structures was presented to 400 children across five grade levels. Results showed that different evaluative beliefs about the concepts of ability and reward allocation were associated with each…

Professor Donald C. Orlich of Washington State University charges that, with few exceptions, the hundreds of research and development projects funded by the federal government since 1953 have brought no significant improvement in instruction. He is especially critical of the Experimental Schools Program. (Author/SJL)

As achievement in basic reading declines, the content validity of tests in special subjects may be reduced because examinees cannot read the test items. This study found that reading ability and item format affected test scores in the area of health science for a sample of high school students. (Author/JKS)

A workable rationale for educational innovation should center around nationally and regionally coordinated research, development, and dissemination; a local network of experimental schools linked to regional and national centers; a larger network of dissemination schools for "road testing" innovations; and comprehensive training programs for staff…

Rather than waiting for youngsters interest to flag in school, 12 Illinois school districts screen children for learning deficiencies before they're in Kindergarten. (Editor)

Reviews popular literature-based propositions pertaining to student retention and non-retention. Surveys the scope of the problem of retention and suggests that retaining a child so as to repeat an unsuccessful experience is inappropriate, whereas retaining a child and using resources to correct well-documented, individual problems is appropriate.…

This article describes the two basic versions of the responsiveness-to-intervention (RTI) approach for identifying learning disabilities, the problem solving model and the standard-protocol approach. It reviews evidence on effectiveness and feasibility and concludes that more needs to be understood before RTI may be viewed as a valid…

Examined 3-year-old boys' pride and shame reactions to success and failure on a "rigged" achievement situation. Found that pride and shame were related to task difficulty and success versus failure but unrelated to temperament after one year. Children whose parents were more positive in previous parenting displayed less pride and…

Examines school counselor's role in the delivery of programs for students at risk for school failure. Discusses protective factors, such as mentors, special hobbies, positive relationships with significant adults, and ways to involve families in the school program. Profiles the importance of understanding a school's structure and organization.…

Health professionals concerned about children's mental health say schools have become more stressful places and that many students cannot handle the pressure. Factors contributing to students' stress include high-stakes testing, fear of failure, parent pressure, and large impersonal schools. To combat the effects of a large school, Venice High…

Proposes an approach to deal with learning difficulties of children with special needs. Identifies three major needs of such students and recommends the application of this active modification approach. Suggests that responsibility for the student's failure always lies with the educational system rather than with the child. (KO)

There is probably no widespread educational practice as thoroughly discredited as retention in grade. If the research undercutting this practice is sound, the task is to uproot outdated misconceptions appealing to educators'"common sense" wisdom. An Arizona study's influence on the attitudes of community leaders, local teachers, and…