Our culture enforces compliance and obedience in all its institutions and at every level. These institutions systematically discourage independent thought or unconventional action. Schools can play an important role in educating strong, independent thinkers. Teachers should act to reward creative disobedience and to discourage conformity. (JN)

This study found that student teachers can function effectively as behavior change agents for their peers on a partnership basis. (MM)

In this study 610 kibbutz and city boys and girls from grades 3 to 6 were compared on the following variables: stages of moral judgment, external reactions to transgression (fear and punitiveness), and internal reactions to transgression (guilt and confession). (Author/MP)

Interviews with and observations of principals and teachers in Ontario elementary schools revealed that beginning teachers would seek assistance from an experienced teacher only if they could find one who taught the same grade in a nearby classroom and who appeared open to friendship. (SJL)

Children aged 5-11 were asked to compare identical moral acts involving a grown-up or a friend. Contrary to Piaget, there was no evidence of an increasing solidarity among peers to the extent that, for example, children think it worse to lie to a friend than to an adult. (Author)

Tested the individual characteristics and deviant peer association theoretical models of friends' influence on the development of delinquency in disruptive boys. Found that moderately disruptive boys with aggressive-disturbing friends were more delinquent at age 13 than other subgroups of moderately disruptive boys. Highly disruptive and…

Urban African American males face complex barriers to learning and achievement. A Washington, D.C., school has designed a ninth-grade program that effectively enhances youngsters' self-concept and allows them to succeed academically. Ninth graders attend most classes in the Annex, a personalized, caring environment that subverts negative aspects…

Examines the personal side of the problem of counselor impairment. The impact this problem has on people, organizations, and the profession and the reasons why it is ignored are explored. Explains the relationship between these problems and the articles selected for this special issue. (Author/RB)

Reviews the Christian fiction series, "Cedar River Daydreams," by Judy Baer and recommended for grades 7-10. The main character is a girl who has moved to a new town, and struggles with socializing in school, peer pressure, popularity, acceptance of her Down's Syndrome afflicted brother, and being herself. Includes an annotated list of…

Social development of students with disabilities is examined from a developmental synthesis perspective. Issues in the social skills deficit framework are also discussed, along with formation of classroom social networks and their role in behavior development. Social interventions should focus on both the classroom social network and the…

Two studies found positive effects of peer modeling upon the play scripts of preschool children with specific language impairment (SLI). The first study involved dyadic play sessions in which children with SLI were paired with a normal language peer model. The second study compared dyads of either two SLI children or one SLI child and one normal…

Many colleges have established substance-free residence halls as one strategy for coping with the problem of binge drinking. The paper presents guidelines for ensuring that the substance-free housing succeeds, including starting small, involving students in design and development, keeping the area separate, considering special programming, and…

Describes how to use whole language instruction in the music classroom. Discusses the various aspects of whole language instruction, such as authentic learning experiences, whole concept, learning that focuses on inquiry, the importance of social interaction, and reflection. Lists appropriate activities. (CMK)

Investigates a prediction model of early withdrawal from school, using a sample of low socio-economic status (SES) boys (n=751), with emphasis on the role of peer-related variables. Reports that power of early disruptiveness and early academic performance predicted dropout; but the effects of these variables depended upon the dropout age. (CMK)

Reports a Louisiana study that investigated relationships between black high school students' academic achievement and their peers' and families' socioeconomic and social status. Test scores, school data, and student surveys indicated that family poverty status, family social status, and peers' family social status all influenced individual…