Argues that it is both possible and desirable to teach history to children in the elementary grades and that it would be educationally beneficial to substitute a history curriculum for the present elementary social studies curriculum. Contends that those who infer curricula from psychologists' findings are confusing concept and content. (Author/WD)

Cognitive and attentional deficits were assessed in school-age children with either a schizophrenic, an affectively disordered, or a normal parent (N=675). Children whose parents met the more stringent criteria for schizophrenia performed somewhat more deviantly than children whose parents met more general criteria. (Author)

The relationship of object permanence and classification skills to receptive and expressive language development was investigated in infants. Object permanence, classification, and parent-child verbal interaction ratings were about equally related to language comprehension functioning, while permanence was more strongly related to language…

The failure to appreciate the nature of adult development and its relationship to learning and teaching is in part theoretical and in part due to weak research methodology. New and more effective methodologies use a combination of cross-sections of groups and longitudinal studies. Consideration of adult learner self-concept is also vital. (MSE)

If human cognitive development advances through a series of broad and general stages, then the child's mind at any developmental point should seem consistent and similar across situations in its maturity level and general style. However, there appear to be factors and conditions that promote homogeneity and heterogeneity in the child's cognitive…

Referring to cognitive competence as a collective term of cognitive behavior as considered by Piaget and Hunt, a theoretical frame of reference based on Brunswik's unit and Wohlwill's conceptions of the environment as a source of stimulation versus the environment as a context for behavior is discussed. (Author)

In response to the preceding article, the authors contend that the pursuit of accuracy in identifying Piagetian stages may be counterproductive to the more important task of providing appropriate curriculum sequences. (KC)

First and fifth graders in two IQ groupings reconstructed pictures which were variations on a prototypic picture. In subsequent recognition, children gave confidence ratings on the "oldness" of the pictures. Prototypes were recognized with most confidence. Younger and lower IQ children were less sure about noncases being "new".…

Discusses the primacy principle theory which says that political orientations learned during childhood shape all subsequent political attitudes and limit all later attitude changes. The authors argue that there is little evidence supporting the theory and that cognitive development theory casts further doubt on its validity. (AM)

The purpose of this research was to examine developmental changes in the knowledge about what variables affect performance on the incidental learning task. Kindergarteners, second graders, fifth graders, and college students indicated on a rating scale how many animals a hypothetical person would remember under easy and difficult levels of each…

Reviews research on infant stimulation and cognitive development, and details implications for infant caregivers. (Author/MP)

Extrapolates some general guidelines for current classroom practice from Booker T. Washington's contributions to the theory and practice of education. (Author/WD)

Argues that the social pressures for children to mature rapidly should not prevent adults from addressing the needs of children nor from helping them achieve their normal course of development. (DB)

Administrators cannot afford to remain ignorant of the work of neuroscientists over the last 30 years. The findings of brain research can help administrators gain a better understanding of decision making. The author lists four benefits to education that administrators can provide through greater knowledge of the brain. (WD)

Research on the effects of stimulant drugs on attention and cognitive deficits in children with hyperactivity is reviewed. Topics covered include: attention and impulsivity, paired associate learning, school achievement, and drug induced attention and cognitive deficits. (CL)