A social studies teacher observes that after 10 years, decision making will probably never be decentralized in Rochester (New York) schools. Contracts, precedents, school board policy, and state law place far too many restrictions on schools' creativity. Maybe hierarchical administrative decision making is best, so long as community members' input…

Compares problem- and emotion-focused coping in students from North America, Germany, and Malaysia to determine the association between coping and physical symptoms. Results with 365 undergraduates found that North Americans and Germans with higher scores on emotion-focused coping had fewer symptoms, although the reverse was true for Malaysians.…

Presents the results of a study of two fifth-grade reading groups, one comprised of all girls and the other of mixed gender. Discusses results in a reflective essay format, suggesting that the group of girls was more emotional in their observations and the mixed group was more action and plot oriented. (TB)

The utility of the Negative Treatment Indicators Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Content and Content Components scales was evaluated using 113 men treated for chronic pain. Correlates for this patient sample were similar to those of the normative sample. Negative treatment scores may be used to indicate emotional stress. (SLD)

Examines the distress symptomatology and family functioning in female undergraduate students who had been sexually victimized in childhood and revictimized in adulthood. This group was contrasted with a child sexual abuse group, peer sexual abuse group, and a no sexual trauma group. Findings indicate the victimized group reported the most severe…

Discusses how to integrate young children's interests into classroom learning activities. Emphasizes the need for early childhood educators to be creative and open-minded when encountering unexpected interests and classroom situations. (KB)

Examines the transplanting of curricular and instructional practices from the United States to the state educational system of Queensland (Australia) from 1969 to 1981. Provides an overview of the involvement of curriculum workers and the contextual influences that impacted their work. Discusses the educators' reaction to the social studies…

Examines a parent's ("Sarah") educational practice and provides a description of her family. Focuses on how Sarah began her educational practice before her children were born, her conception of education and educational success, how she makes decisions in a context of uncertainty, and the role of emotions in her educational practice. (CMK)

Argues that traditional textbook approaches to teaching literature alienate students from literature. Describes effective alternatives in which students learn interpretive strategies as they analyze and discuss their own important values in life, and then those of characters in a story; and learn to deal with irony. Outlines writing activities…

Responds to the articles "Another Opportunity Lost?: Maybe Professional Development Experiences Aren't Supposed to Teach Teachers Anything about the New York State Social Studies Framework" by Sandra Mathison and "Misconstruing Constructivism and State Regulation of Teaching (Unlearning What We Know about Educational Reforms)"…

Investigates teachers' beliefs and attitudes on infant school classes in northern England. Reports on class size preferences and preferential treatment for some groups of children and teachers. Indicates that class size cannot be treated as unidimensional in its impact on the quality of teaching and learning. (CMK)

School boards are challenged to reconcile differences between test-dominated accountability and the growing backlash against standards and assessments. The answer: a comprehensive accountability system that does not ignore state demands for improved achievement as measured by test scores, but places them in context with classroom practices. (MLH)

Discusses and provides historical background on the Michigan state content standards intended to improve social studies education. Addresses the role of statewide assessment in educational reform and the challenges in assessment. Considers (1) teacher preparation to support the standards and assessment and (2) the focus upon higher order thinking…

Developed a computerized adaptive language proficiency test for a community college in Quebec, Canada and obtained item response theory calibrations on the items from 700 to 800 administrations. Describes projected efforts to detect instances in which "cheating low" (answering incorrectly deliberately) occurs. (SLD)

A study investigated the performance of high- and low-risk (for child abuse) mothers on cognitive measures in a cry (crying infant) and no-cry condition. High-risk mothers had lower conceptual ability, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving skills. The difficulty high-risk mothers have in using feedback to modify their behavior is discussed.…