Examined how encouragement and teachers' expectations influenced the way female students actively position themselves as high achievers in science classrooms. Results with 43 Year 10 Australian students show the importance of encouragement in student attitudes about science achievement. (SLD)

Responds to comments by Eisenberg (Anne F.) and Shepperd (Jerry W.) to the authors' arguments about student consumerism and postmodern society. Notes common ground among all four authors, and addresses points on which they differ: the importance of faculty adapting to students' expectations and the role of the academy as guardian of knowledge.…

Determines when U.S. children begin to self-handicap, that is, to reduce preparation effort before evaluations. Finds that the high-self-esteem third graders acted adaptively by practicing more for the evaluation task, while the high-self-esteem sixth graders prepared more only if they had been reminded of their personal resources beforehand. (CMK)

Investigates the five factors that affect teachers' use of discussion as a means to promote more frequent use of that strategy. Shows that teachers' perceptions of their students influence their teaching techniques. Concludes that familiarizing future teachers about discussion as a teaching strategy could encourage its use in the classroom. (CMK)

Examined predictors and sequelae of homesickness in 293 boys, ages 8 to 16 years, who spent two weeks at an overnight camp. Found that the "homesick disposition" and little prior separation together accounted for 69% of the variance in self-reported homesickness. Interpersonal attitudes and perceived control predicted 70% of the variance…

Examines the relation of being labeled as intellectually gifted to a mid-life appraisal of having lived up to one's abilities and to psychological well-being at age 80. Learning at a younger age of membership in a study of intellectual giftedness was related to less likelihood of believing that one has lived up to one's intellectual abilities at…

Examined predictions of 48 four- and five-year-old (mostly European Australian) children concerning the sex of persons carrying out common activities or occupations on television. Responses reveal strong gender stereotyped expectations, which were strongest for masculine stereotyped activities. Stereotyped judgments also increased with age. (SLD)

An informal survey of state superintendent associations and lawyers representing superintendents reveals little change in top executives' contracts over the past decade. Mandatory evaluations and renewable (non-"evergreen") contracts are becoming common; pay-for-performance measures are emerging, yet limited. Contractual and job-leaving…

Describes the author's experiences and their relation to the notion of educating the "whole student" expounded by student development theories. Suggests that one role educators must explore is that of assisting students in determining their own parameters and learning to accept responsibility for their decisions. (MAB)

Successful classroom teachers have the skills to teach students with disabilities. Teachers should consult with colleagues and specialists; welcome disabled students; accept full teaching responsibility; facilitate students' belonging; clarify expectations with team members; adapt activities and arrangements; provide active, participatory learning…

Summarizes a study addressing two common misconceptions on U.S. college campuses: that choice of friendships is random and that minorities are given preferential treatment by faculty and administrators. Survey results (with 144 Caucasians and 69 minority students) showed that teachers often had low expectations of minorities and that socialization…

Causal modeling techniques applied to data from 791 college students showed that parental encouragement in math and science significantly influenced achievement, which in turn influenced self-efficacy and outcome expectations. Results supported the role of family context in Lent et al.'s social cognitive career choice model. (Contains 40…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health provide modest support for an association between adolescents' expectations for their future health and educational attainment and their risk-taking behaviors involving early sexual intercourse, selling drugs, and weapon use. Noteworthy "school climate" predictors were found,…

Examines the experiences of academically successful black secondary school students in Alberta, Canada, highlighting issues of systemic racism in Canadian society as a significant barrier to black students' academic achievement. Argues that the issue of racism must be tackled aggressively by educational institutions and administrators in order to…

Studies (n=107) of prevalence and correlates of college student cheating are reviewed. Strongest correlates of cheating included having moderate expectations of success, past cheating, poor study conditions, positive attitudes about cheating, perceiving that social norms support cheating, and anticipating rewards for success. A model of…