Much of this brief comes from the ERIC Digest on Zero Tolerance Policies (ERIC #: ED451579). State legislatures and school boards are adopting a growing number of zero-tolerance polices toward weapons, guns, and violence. Zero-tolerance polices are rules intended to address specific school-safety issues. Despite the controversies that it has…

The promotion of pupils' self-discipline has been clearly highlighted as one of the National Priorities for Scottish education. This reflects the key role that establishing positive working relationships between pupils and staff is known to play in ensuring effective learning. Equally, this relationship also works in reverse. The quality of…

This document contains the October 1949 through June 1950 issues of "School Life," a monthly publication of the U.S. Federal Security Agency Office of Education. The journal issues cover a variety of topics across education sectors, atomic energy education, education media, school sanitation, veterans' education and training, adult…

Various social changes have diminished the authority of school officials, deemphasized the school role, and altered the options regarding school discipline. School officials must recognize when and how they should utilize police expertise and when they must submit to police jurisdiction over student-committed crime in schools. (Author/MJL)

Black Studies, it is suggested, should be an interdisciplinary field that will not incite fear or misgivings any more than other higher education interdisciplinary programs. A clear distinction is needed between Afro American Studies as an academic discipline and as a social answer to pressing problems. (MLW)

Using 1976-77 data on truants aged 14 and under in Sheffield, England, this study examined characteristics of poor attenders and compared the effects on subsequent school attendance of three intervention strategies: calling parents before a school attendance board; prosecuting parents in magistrates court; or taking action through juvenile court.…

Teachers from predominantly Black, White, or Hispanic inner-city, elementary schools report on the factors which cause physical and mental stress. The report claims that these stresses undermine teacher morale, and ultimately, the quality of instruction suffers. (APM)

The authors examine the potential and the limitations of alternative schools for disruptive students by discussing positive features, such as small student-teacher ratio and enhancement of self-concept, and negative aspects, such as the tendency toward racial isolation and possible use as a tool for social control. (SK)

Identified voter attitudes directly affecting voter behavior in fiscal elections, including attitudes about community involvement in policy-making, school community relations, school discipline and the teaching of democracy, present level of spending, and present level of taxes. Perceptions of school quality and social conditions have little…

The article describes two elementary level basic skills programs operating in Alabama, one tailored for and operating throughout the state, and the other funded for 10 Appalachian Alabama schools by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The article details the way two schools use their ARC funds. (SB)

Varying aspects of the study of psychology are discussed focusing on the shortcomings of the traditional definition of psychology as the study of behavior. Effects of cognitive, experimental, and applied psychology are examined, and a general concept of psychology as the study of the mind and mental processes is advanced. (BH)

Uses journal entries to trace a student teacher's professional development during her student teaching assignment. These entries address a number of issues, including team teaching, decision making, consistency with students, lesson and curriculum planning, and classroom discipline. Includes a series of suggested poststudent teaching activities.…

Two studies, one quantitative and another qualitative, of learning style preferences of physical education majors are reviewed. The quantitative study investigated variation in relation to gender, age, and ethnicity and how preferences compared to those found in other disciplines. The qualitative study identified common themes in student…

Describes how to handle noncompliant students in the classroom. Suggestions include eliminating excessive expectations, encouraging assertiveness, offering options and choices, giving the students specific responsibilities, taking control of homework, taking steps to avert potentially oppositional behavior, strategically rewarding compliance,…

Argues that college faculty evaluation policies, procedures, and criteria emphasize technical rather than substantive aspects of teaching, focus on process over outcomes, lack strategic concern for institutional use of evaluation data, and deemphasize discipline. Recommends evaluating three aspects of teaching (planning, implementation, results),…