Asserts that school violence is a major educational problem and reflects the increased violence in society. Examines responses by administrators and boards of education to school violence. Categorizes school policies regarding violence into deterrence, prevention, and treatment and discusses their effectiveness. (CFR)

Examined the relationships between violence within the family and child behavior problems in a sample of 185 children living at battered women shelters. Found that children were affected by witnessing violence between their parents and by harsh punitive discipline, particularly administered by mothers. Family violence variables were better…

Notes that school readiness screening tests can vary greatly in sophistication, and can easily be incorrectly applied and interpreted. Suggests that normal development is highly variable during kindergarten and first grade and that school programs should be flexible and adaptable to individual characteristics. (HTH)

Describes perspectives of several families whose children dropped out of school. Audiotaped interviews with 3 or more members of 12 families reveal hostile views toward schooling and a 2-generation history of poor academic performance. School was a series of academic failures, conflicts, disciplinary hearings, suspensions, and expulsions. Dropping…

Introduces the articles in this journal issue, noting the burgeoning interest in the roots of parental beliefs, values, and goals. Highlights thematic continuities among the otherwise diverse research approaches presented, for example, synthesis of different theoretical perspectives of parent beliefs, or the context in which parental beliefs…

Reports on a study of bullying and other forms of student-caused distress among 836 secondary students in England. Finds students experienced much more peer abuse in secondary schools than in elementary schools. Also finds that males recorded a significantly higher incidence of physical abuse than did females. (CFR)

A descriptive analysis of disruptive behavior was generated from filmed observations before and after self-management training with 2 junior high students, ages 13-14, with serious emotional disturbance. Self-management training included modeling, rehearsal, and rehearsal in the apparent absence of supervision. Conditions associated with problem…

Examined whether children of alcoholic mothers were more psychologically damaged than children of nonalcoholic mothers. The subject families' potential for creating a good upbringing environment and subjects' childhoods were studied. Found that children of alcoholic mothers develop social maladjustment problems and addictions, and have a high rate…

Reports on a longitudinal study about the educational progress and behavior of 49 children in long-term foster care and a comparison group of children receiving social work support while remaining with their birth families. Finds that the children in foster care showed lower academic achievement and more behavioral problems. (CFR)

Attempts to clarify the complex relationship between the identification of at-risk students and the ways educators try to retain them in school. Examines student problems from three different perspectives: the idiosyncratic, the sociocultural, and the institutional. Common student problems of learning, inappropriate behavior, depression, and…

Studied the impact of a $70-per-month increase in payment to foster parents, and other incentives, on the stability of foster care and the behavior of 4- to 7-year-old children in foster care. Children whose foster parents received payments exhibited a lower foster care dropout rate than other children. (SM)

Studies the association between the severity of early female antisocial behavior (drug-related and non-drug-related offenses) and the later behavioral and emotional health of the children of these women, using a secondary analysis of National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data for 688 whites, 481 Hispanic Americans, and 256 African Americans. (RLC)

Using accelerating exclusion rates from one British local education authority shows that some children--particularly certain adolescents--are becoming scapegoats of systemic failure. By being excluded, these children are deprived of their rights to education and proper attention to their emotional and behavioral needs. Responsible parties must…

Researchers believe an ecological perspective that considers multiple factors as impacting delinquent behavior is important, and early intervention can effectively reduce delinquency. Four studies have shown reduced delinquency in children receiving early intervention services. The article examines several perspectives and suggests children must…

The article identifies five themes of current school reform policies and efforts and evaluates their possible effects on programs for students with behavior disorders. They are (1) allowing more parental choice; (2) doing more with less; (3) achieving competitive academic excellence; (4) eliminating violence and disruptive behavior; and (5)…