The article looks at risks and benefits of horseback riding. Several risks can be minimized if riders take lessons, check riding equipment before each ride, wear proper headgear and footgear, and respect the horse's size and will. Medical guidelines for equestrian sports could help reduce injuries. (SM)

Used locus of control assessments to monitor specific aspect of adolescent chemical dependency treatment program. Used song lyric analysis activities to note short-term modifications in experimental group's (N=10) perceived locus of control. No improvements were noted in matched control group's locus of control. Findings suggest that addictions…

To be effective, a substance abuse prevention and education (SAPE) program for young children must acknowledge that such abuse is part of large societal problems. A SAPE program must reinforce school efforts by targeting the home, community, and local media and be developmentally appropriate and culture-sensitive. Strong principal leadership is…

Discusses how business teachers can get students to stay in school and learn problem solving in context with teaching basic business knowledge and information processing and computer skills. (JOW)

A curriculum for teaching self-protection skills was evaluated with eight mildly retarded adults. The curriculum, presented in a small-group format, uses instructions, modeling, rehearsal, feedback, and praise to teach proper responses to abduction and sexual abuse situations. Seven subjects learned the skills and maintained them at six-month…

Discusses the epidemic of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) affecting Native American communities, the lifetime costs associated with an FAS birth, behavioral aberrations of FAS children that affect classroom performance, and federal and state legislation and funding aimed at FAS prevention through treatment of pregnant alcoholics. (SV)

Implemented Success in School program which focuses on dropout prevention with fifth-grade students (N=37). Self-reports indicated students saw themselves in a more positive light and were able to predict future successes for themselves. Recommends school programs that help students improve their self-esteem as strategy to reduce ultimate dropout…

Schools are experimenting with community service programs. Among these are service-based intervention programs for at-risk children and K-12 curricula of community service. Cites examples, the characteristics of effective programs, and proposed federal legislation. (MLF)

The article proposes more consideration of preventive services as a viable alternative to current service delivery models for special education services. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention services are described. Reasons for more preventive service delivery systems are identified and the research on risk and child development is reviewed.…

Suggests management strategies designed to prevent complaints of child abuse in day care facilities and procedures to follow if a complaint is filed. Article is third in a four-part series. (RJC)

Provides review of substance abuse prevention programing over the past 20 years. Describes an empirically promising approach based on teaching assertiveness and decision-making skills and cites the results of a longitudinal evaluation of the assertiveness training component. Concludes with a description of the authors' current program in the…

Some commonly misused or abused exercises which are potentially harmful are identified. Each questionable exercise is illustrated, its potential for harm discussed, and an alternative suggested. Ten general rules are offered to help teachers, coaches, exercise leaders, and individuals avoid exercise-related injuries. (IAH)

Examines research about serious childhood injuries. Describes a state program that tries to ensure the safety of children in family day care homes. (PCB)

A study of the use of verbal active parental consent, obtained via telephone, for drug abuse prevention research among 2,948 adolescents is reported. Using this approach as a follow up to mailings requesting written consent, researchers were able to contact a parent for 96 percent of the students. (TJH)

This literature review focuses on the dropout phenomenon in general education, discussing interventions, dropout characteristics, and consequences of dropping out, and emphasizing literature on special education dropouts. The paper concludes by discussing implications for research and service programs that can address the dropout problem in…