This innovative regional school for gifted juniors and seniors is characterized by state/private funding, a balanced student body, instruction emphasizing individual inquiry and group cooperation, enforced study hours, work and community service requirements, and professional outreach programs to other public schools. Criticisms of the school are…

The operation of a "Walkabout" program at a large urban magnet school is reviewed. After frequent exposure to supervised community experiences in regular humanities courses students may undertake independent, semester-long Walkabout projects, usually career-oriented. (MJL)

This paper examines market and institutional perspectives to provide a framework for exploring curricular and instructional differentiation in school choice. It reviews previous research on the relationship between school choice and curricular, and instructional differentiation and innovation, and explores the extent to which principals and…

This paper describes magnet schools as thematic islands of choice within a traditional district-assignment plan. These "islands of choice" are currently the most popular destination with those who exercise some choice in where they send their children to school. During the 1991-92 school year, 3,200 magnet schools were in operation, hosting some…

This paper presents a study conducted with two goals in mind: (1) to employ an operational definition of school choice that is more faithful to orthodox choice theory than are extant definitions; and (2) with this definition, to assess possible effects of school choice on students' academic commitment and achievement. Claims for the positive…

Discusses the use of a balance assembled from standard laboratory components to conduct an experiment on the repulsion between two bar magnets. Includes an analysis of data on the two-pole and four-pole models. (CC)

Experiments performed at Brookhaven National Laboratories on the energy states of free atoms are described. Included are the techniques and the significance of the measurements. (Author/TS)

In response to a question, "Why not use a magnetic or electric field to deflect light?," reviews the relation between electric charge and electric/magnetic fields. Discusses the Faraday effect, (describing matter as an intermediary in the rotation of the place of polarization) and other apparent interactions of light with electric/magnetic fields.…

Children will be able to see the concept of a magnetic field translated into a visible reality using the simple method outlined. Standard shelf paper, magnets, iron filings, and paint in a spray can are used to prepare a permanent and well-detailed picture of the magnetic field. (Author/JN)

Holds that magnet schools should attract substantial numbers of different racial backgrounds. Describes a study of Philadelphia's High School for Creative and Performing Arts that investigated (1) the school's success in attracting students representative of those in the school district; and (2) parents' perceptions of factors that enhance the…

Examines the results of the Los Angeles School District's desegregation efforts during the first year (1978-79) of its court ordered desegregation plan. Also considers current desegregation programs in terms of the 1963 "Crawford" decision and the commitment made to racially isolated schools in the current plan. (Author/GC)

Describes a demonstration that shows induction, emf, and the right-hand rules, using two solenoids, two strong bar magnets, and two small masses. (GA)

Evaluates the use of drama to assess children's knowledge of scientific concepts. Describes a case study of 7-year-olds and the study of magnetism. By taking science concepts out of the context of practical science activities, teachers could assess student knowledge without simply seeing what was expected, and students could explore ideas and…