Attempts to define a paradigm that helps shape the African-American studies discipline, and argues that emphasis must be placed on generating practical and emancipatory knowledge. African-American studies is a necessary discipline if Afrocentric scholars are to be generated who have a commitment to being scholar activists. (SLD)

Responses of 250 college faculty to questions about "good" teaching were analyzed by gender, rank, and discipline. Overall, few gender differences were found. Those that emerged include greater female faculty interest in student self-esteem, class interaction/participation, and seeking outside assistance in improving teaching. Male faculty valued…

Offers suggestions for teachers who are interested in constructivist principles, but concerned about the classroom management required to accompany creative teaching. Outlines some procedures for achieving this goal. Includes an extensive list of student activities that can assist classroom-management efforts. (MJP)

An interview with a colleague of linguist John Swales focuses on Swales' career study of English for Specific Purposes (ESP), particularly genre analysis and ESP and the growing interaction of two field, ESP for non-native speakers and composition studies, usually concerned with native speakers. Specific contributions made by Swales to the fields…

Repeats a mid-1980s project as part of the Economic and Social Research Council project, "Pupil's Approaches to Subject Option Choices," allowing comparison of approaches before and after the National Curriculum implementation. Shows across-time and between-school differences in subject preference, but little instability in perceptions…

Describes research on the development of chronic conduct problems in childhood and adolescence, examining a multiple risk-factor model that includes biological predispositions, ecological context, family processes, peer influences, academic performance, and social information processing as factors leading to conduct problems. The paper describes a…

Discussion of access versus holdings of academic library materials and the performance of document-delivery services focuses on work at the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom) that is investigating existing and future document supply services, including costs. Expresses concern regarding the low level of subject coverage by many of the…

Examines competing and conflicting approaches to curriculum (using information from an ATLAS (Authentic Teaching, Learning, and Assessment of all Students) seminar study group that investigated differences in participants' approaches), describing the four sources of authority that shape curriculum decisions, discussing different balances of…

Investigates the educational and moral significance of an African-American gym teacher's practice at a Chicago elementary school. Although her teaching is far removed from professional ideals, her strict discipline style and her caring, friendly nature are valued by students, parents, and colleagues. Student development is her primary concern.…

Discusses the chilling effect on learning of bullying and peer harassment, resources and strategies for creating a more respectful school climate, and the need for comprehensive schoolwide policies and procedures that also involve community. Sidebars describe the newly established National Safe Schools Resource Center and various educator guides…

Studies the association between parenting practices and conduct problem behavior in a sample (N=179) of children and adolescents. Results indicate that parents' involvement in their children's activities is most strongly predictive of conduct problems in the adolescent age group, whereas corporal punishment is most strongly associated with conduct…

For service-learning proponents, the emphasis on assessment presents special challenges: definitions vary widely; credible testing is in its infancy; and tracking causal effects on academics is difficult, intrusive, and expensive. Political will may diminish if schools are forced to choose between school service programs and high test scores. (MLH)

A study with 45 high school seniors investigated the relationship between performance in a computer-based 10-lesson science tutorial program and students' Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) profiles. Results indicate performance differences in the program's two phases (knowledge acquisition and knowledge application) for all MBTI scales,…

The American Council on Education's new survey of 2,297 college presidents in diverse institutions found more women and, to a lesser extent, minorities are becoming presidents, but white men predominate. Presidents are serving somewhat longer terms, except in doctoral-granting institutions. New presidents are coming to the job with more…

Examines the influence of traditional classroom features on learning in a mathematics classroom in the United Kingdom. Analyzes student interviews, lesson observations, and results of questionnaires to show how traditional forms of education can inhibit understanding, reify the divide between school and "real world," and suppress the…