Discusses the debate over proper balance between a school board's authority to prescribe a uniform curriculum and parent's First Amendment right to free exercise of religion, citing a recent Tennessee case which determined that uniform use of objectionable texts is not crucial for a sound education. (WTH)

Each report in The State of Chicago Public Schools: 1993 to 2000 makes up part of a comprehensive picture of how high schools changed under Phase 2 of the Chicago, Illinois, educational reform efforts. This report looks at student performance. Data from a variety of sources show that in recent years the high school eligible students in Chicago's…

This report reviews the most current data on women's progress in mathematics and science achievement, attitudes, course-taking patterns, and college majors. Results of recent studies suggest that many factors such as parental encouragement, teacher preparation, teacher student interactions, curriculum content, hands-on laboratory experiences,…

Gender differences in taking advanced science courses and the characteristics of schools that affect course taking by high school girls were studied using data from the High School Effectiveness Study, a supplement of the National Longitudinal Study of 1988. The sample consisted of 3,430 students who attended 184 high schools between 1988 and…

This guide is intended to help parents as their children make decisions about college and the first year of college. It discusses college selection, financial decisions, academic choices, social choices, and questions of personal safety. The chapters are: (1) "The Right School for Your Child--And You"; (2) "Paying for College and Getting What You…

This report resents tables of repeated course enrollment data in Florida community colleges for the fall 1993 cohort. Overall, the percent of repeats in college preparatory courses was greater than that of college credit courses. Within ICS codes, the highest percentage of credit repeat enrollments was in mathematics; the second highest was in…

Results of a questionnaire completed by 985 secondary school students in England (180 Asian females), indicate that Asian females enjoy school as much as or more than their counterparts, and enjoy subjects along sex stereotypical lines regardless of ethnicity. Grouping students by ethnicity for studies of motivation is questioned. (SLD)

A study tested the hypothesis that nativism, ethnocentrism, and nationalism have a direct negative effect on students' choice to study international business. Subjects were 222 incoming freshman business students at 4 universities. Results indicated high levels of nativism and ethnocentrism, but not nationalism, were major inhibitors to studying…

Relationships between personality variables and entrance into and persistence in engineering and racial differences in personality profiles of engineering students were studied for 129 freshmen in engineering and 85 persisting engineering students. Results suggest that personality differences play a vital role in persistence but that racial…

Presents results of a survey of students' favorite middle and high school courses. Reports that the greatest disparity between most and least favorite subject was recorded for history. Concludes that overall, history was viewed positively by a wider margin than any other subject. Suggests that, although students like history, teachers must…

Presents a discussion with James J. Davis, interim chairman of Howard University's Department of Romance Languages. Offers Davis' view that African-American students often are ambivalent about foreign language study and frequently prefer African to European languages. Describes how Davis became involved in the field. (SG)

Questions regarding reasons students select or decline to study German are examined, based on the results of a survey conducted among students of German in 127 U.S. high schools. Student responses are discussed in the light of academic, demographic, social, and familial considerations, and a profile of the 1990s student of German is constructed.…

Australian researchers surveyed secondary school girls to determine reasons for enrollment in physical education (PE). Girls selecting PE enjoyed the break, activity, sports, fitness, and skills. Those not enrolling believed other subjects were more important, PE did not fit their schedules, they exercised enough already, and PE was too…

Presents results of an annual survey of enrollment trends. Reports that graduate enrollments are up, especially in the arts and humanities. States that the majority of graduate students in education and psychology are women, but men are in the majority in history and philosophy. Observes that English and foreign language attract many more women…

The number of students under age 21 who entered college science or engineering courses rose markedly between 1963 and 1990, concurrent with general expansion in higher education. Female enrollments grew rapidly in science but remained very low in engineering. Rates of participation in both fields remained higher among better qualified students.…