The effects of student teaching and the pretesting of attitudes on student teachers' attitudes were studied. Results suggested that pretesting of attitudes was detrimental to attitude improvement. Appropriate designs for assessing changes in attitudes were discussed. (Author/MH)

Concludes that the popular "Topsy and Tim" children's books reflect a narrow middle-class White culture, have sexist undertones, are falsely cheerful, use language poorly, and feature poor illustrations; contrasts them with superior books that lead children into maturing thought and development. Lists 20 favorite books for young children. (GT)

Presents a framework for characterizing the emotional impact of day care environments, using pleasure, arousal, and dominance-submissiveness dimensions to predict children's emotional reactions to day care and to separation from their parents, their active involvement in day care, and the extended effects of day care on their cognitive…

The moral reasoning of teachers enrolled in education courses was examined through an administration of the Defining Issues Test. Teachers were found to be at a generally comparable level to most other adults, but below many college graduates. (JKS)

Pattern drill is criticized as being monotonous, not transferable to real-life situations, and not conducive to the development of communication-competence. Situational exercises are needed, designed to enable the learners to verbalize their wishes and needs. (IFS/WGA)

The results of a series of simulation studies designed to investigate the influence of guessing and item pool characteristics on the bias, accuracy, and information properties of the trait estimates derived from Owen's Bayesian sequential testing strategy are reported. (RC)

The Open University implemented a project called M205-STILE (Students' and Teachers' Integrated Learning Environment), a fundamental computer science course, with 110 distance learning students and nine tutors in the United Kingdom and Europe. This article examines, from student and tutor perspectives, the knowledge, social, and motivational use…

Describes an interdisciplinary unit that brought the Civil War to life for 11th-grade students in a team-taught unit that highlighted student-driven response to reading. Describes use of a 19th-century essay supporting slavery, Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle,""Huckleberry Finn," Civil War poetry and other writings, and student projects based on the…

A study of Jerusalem schools used three statistical procedures to assess teachers' perceived policy alignment among three organizational levels (teachers, schools, and the Israel Ministry of Education). Results show close connections between teachers' own policies and those they impute to schools but not those imputed to the IMOE. Findings support…

Examines the transition in child care from the infant room into the toddler room from the perspectives of the parents, the child, and the caregiver. Suggests strategies for easing the transition by moving the caregivers with the children, moving one caregiver to the toddler room, making transition gradual, and retaining the positive aspects of the…

Considers the need for developing a theoretical framework for therapy in family centers. Examines the contribution of concepts of "emotional containment" and "holding" from parent-infant relationship theories to management and therapy. Explores how workers' anxieties can be managed so reflective practice and therapeutic…

Argues a violent society adversely affects the development of young children, and caregivers must play a healing role in caring for children. Examines how violence affects children's sense of self, a child's relationships with others, and a child's world view. Supports building worthwhile relationships with parents and providing a safe haven. (SD)

Investigates the order in which dispositional and situational information is considered. Results indicate that perceivers are flexible in their inference processes: they are able to draw either dispositional or situational inferences initially. Greater understanding of the mechanisms and determinants of social judgments has important implications…

Presents findings from a study of high school faculty members' perceptions of three North Central Association self-study formats: a conventional, an individualized, and an outcomes-based format. Describes faculty perceptions with respect to the administrative mechanics, ownership, relevance, resulting improvements, and effects of participation for…

A study of 370 male and 2,681 female adolescents with a history of sexual abuse found that males were at higher risk than females for poor school performance, delinquent activities, extreme use of alcohol and marijuana, and sexual risk taking. Female victims showed higher risk for suicidal ideation and behavior, frequent use of alcohol, and…