When discussing the value of the degree, it is suggested that institutional leaders and staff members must consider the messages their environment sends, admit and deal with their own doubts, set and enforce standards, and determine what kinds of change will work. (MLW)

It is more satisfactory to use a mechanically produced prediction of candidates' student teaching grades (based on multiple selection criteria) for selection of candidates for teacher education programs than to use any other single criterion. Greater specificity of variables leads to more accurate prediction of student teaching performance. (SB)

This case study describes different traditional and sensory approaches to reading which were tried unsuccessfully with Jim, a third-grade nonreader, until a breakthrough was made by teaching him Exact English Signing. The author speculates that other techniques, such as braille, might also help the learning disabled. (SJL)

Reports correlations between scores on the Metropolitan Readiness Tests, teacher rankings of reading readiness, and socioeconomic (SES) status of 536 beginning first-grade pupils. Discusses results in terms of the effects SES may have on both a student's readiness scores and a teacher's view of student readiness. (FL)

A substantial portion of what has been interpreted as "fear of success" imagery of the Thematic Apperception Test is argued to involve anxiety about engaging in achievement activities traditionally considered to be inappropriate to one's sex role. (Author/JKS)

Attracting attention, promoting interaction with subject matter, and enabling students to feel successful are three components in the process teachers should use to select and structure activities and the learning environment. (JMF)

David, a 12-year-old without arms or legs, integrated himself gradually into the author's primary class through his determination to do a science project. Together, David, his father, and his teacher solved the logistical problems and built the apparatus David needed for full-time regular class work. (SJL)

The Fernald Technique (originated by G. Fernald), which is a multi-modal approach involving tracing, is one method of teaching reading to learning disabled students. (Author/PHR)

Internal locus of control and positive outcome subjects attributed responsibility for their test results to internal factors, while external and negative outcome subjects tended toward external causations. Ability and luck components were rated in accord with the Weiner model classification, but the effort and task components were not. (Author/SJL)

The academic success of students with previous open school experience who entered structured or traditional schools was impeded. (MM)

Fifth-grade boys solved sets of achievement-related puzzles, working in pairs in which one succeeded and one failed. Results showed the reward structure of the performance setting was an important determinant of self and interpersonal evaluations. Competitive conditions caused self-punitive behavior for failure outcomes and some ego-enhancing…

This experiment investigated the effects of success and failure experiences on subsequent self-ratings of positive and negative social-psychological characteristics. Teacher trainees (N=60) were assigned to success, failure, or control experiences. Subjects who experienced success made significantly greater gains in positive self-assessments, and…

Discussed are self-modification projects in college psychology courses. Findings indicate that, although students respond favorably to projects involving self-control, they tend to report their actions incorrectly when grades are involved. (Author/DB)

What impact might higher education have on the economic situation and personal growth of welfare mothers? The results of a study confirm that the large majority of these mothers are able to succeed academically and that this education provided them with improved possibilities for employment and increased personal satisfaction. (Author)

A former U.S. Commissioner of Education traces the personal influences that have made him an ardent champion of the small liberal arts college and offers some enterprising suggestions for keeping these colleges successful. (Editor/LBH)