A set of "creative competencies" provides a framework for assessing the extent to which local school environments contribute to the production of creative citizens. Following an introduction to rationale and organization of the Vermont Creativity Task Force, material is divided into five substantive sections. Section 1 pinpoints the…

This digest discusses the ways in which counselors in middle schools can help youngsters face the challenges of early adolescence and prepare them for life in high school. It focuses on: (1) understanding one's self; (2) family relationships; (3) peer pressure and drug abuse; (4) stressful lives; (5) sexual maturation; (6) academics; and (7)…

The urban high school dropout phenomenon may result from the inability of at-risk students to integrate competing social identities, or "selves." Using Erik Erikson's theory of adolescent personality development as a framework, this study analyzes information gathered from interviews with 73 New York City high school students by peer…

This case study of a central office school improvement initiative in an urban school system examines instructional leadership practices of two junior high school principals. The school-based research focuses on correlates of school effectiveness in "low achieving" settings and the principals' capacity to "reflect-in-action," an ability to make…

The purpose of the present investigation was to develop a construct validity approach for testing whether the separation of positive and negative item subscales is substantively meaningful in self-concept research. Results from three published studies using the Self Description Questionnaire (SDQ) III were reanalyzed. The SDQ III measures 13…

Designed to help rural students find employment and adjust to life in urban areas, the handbook provides basic information in six subject areas. Part I focuses on getting to know yourself by assessing past activities, preferences, abilities, personality, limitations, and values. Part II explores aspects of jobs and careers: being career oriented,…

A joint statement by 27 scholars, educators, and policymakers focuses on the question of character development in American education, as well as the general need to sustain the momentum of reform brought about by numerous national reports on education. Following an executive summary which presents a rationale for the statement, material is divided…

The proceedings of the seventh annual meeting of the College Reading Association consisted of the following papers: (1) "President's Report" (Martha J. Maxwell); (2) "The Library Is Your Reading Test" (Nancy Larrick); (3) "The Lehigh--Bethlehem ITA Study Interim Report Four" (Albert J. Mazurkiewicz); (4) "The…

The purpose of this manual is to provide supplemental information and to serve as a general resource for practitioners involved in the developmental and educational assessment of young children. The first section focuses on the process of assessing young handicapped children and includes specific information on indicators of potential problems in…

The validity of teacher locus of control (TLOC) as measured by an instrument adapted for this purpose was studied. The construct refers to the individual's perception that changes in his or her environment result from internal or external factors. An adaptation of a scale developed by R. C. Taylor et al. (1981) was used to measure TLOC. The first…

The learning of decision-making (DM) skills and appropriate attitudes is an important objective of career education. This study provides an empirical test of theoretical links between aspects of DM styles and vocational maturity (VM) in adolescence. Approximately 260 Australian students in grades ten and twelve answered questionnaires measuring…

The personal adjustment of gifted and normal college students was compared, and the effects of different educational programs for the gifted were assessed. Sixty-three males and 61 females who had been identified as gifted during elementary or junior high school by the California public schools were divided into three groups based on the degree of…

A program of self-evaluation was developed for teachers to use in creating a personal profile which could become the basis for designing a long-range professional development program. Seven areas for self-assessment were philosophical belief system, personality traits, interpersonal awareness traits, self-concept, learning style, teaching style,…

The paper presents data about applying the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale (CSCS) to an Australian population. Data were obtained from 402 randomly selected male and female, primary and secondary school students, representing all school systems (195 from Grades 3 and 4, 207 from Grades 10 and 11). Anaylsis conducted on the two age…

Universal Studies, a study program designed to help students develop emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually, is described. Development of the personality and character of the individual is emphasized, as are innovation, creativity, individualized instruction, independent learning, and realizing human potential. These goals are characterized…