This history of Lancaster, a nineteenth-century reform school for poor girls, illustrates the change in reform ideology from belief in the efficacy of family-style environment to concern for protecting the social order from "hereditarily deviant" children. The role of institutions as mechanisms for social control of the poor and of women…

Studied relationship of temperament and same-sex peer interaction with gender differences in adjustment. Found that highly arousable boys who played with same-sex peers had increased problem behaviors. Arousable girls who played with other girls were relatively unlikely to show problem behaviors. The arousability and same-sex peer interaction…

Profiles rural single-parent father family through three case study surveys. Focuses on fathers' adaptation to change, their use of outsider resources, and specific needs. Suggests services be seen in context of common rural economic stress. Suggests approaches and social services for these and other rural families. (TES)

Two studies involving 125 sixth graders and 28 fifth through seventh graders examined negative social reactions from the perspective of rejecting peers. The more children perceived atypical students to be responsible for idiosyncracies, the more anger and less sympathy they reported. Implications for improving social acceptance are discussed. (SLD)

This study compared the problem-solving skills of 73 children (ages 6-14) with mild mental retardation, who exhibited either adjusted classroom behavior or impulsive or inhibited behavior. Irrespective of age or intelligence quotient, adjusted children had a larger number of relevant solutions to problems and a higher ratio of aggressive…

Fifth grade social behavioral profiles of 75 arrested and nonarrested adolescent boys were assessed to determine their ability to predict the later arrest status of the boys in grades 5-7. Using such measures as teacher ratings of social skills and observations of negative aggressive behavior, 75 percent of subsequently arrested subjects were…

This article reviews the literature on early admission to college and describes two high-schools-within-college institutions. It critiques a paper by Dewey G. Cornell and others (EC 601 042) on predictive measurement of socioemotional adjustment of accelerated adolescent females. The article also questions the value of social adjustment for…

Examined the relationship of 79 children's preschool social adaptation to internalizing problem behaviors following transition to kindergarten. Found that boys and girls did not differ in symptom level, but girls showed higher stability in internalizing problem behavior than boys. Preschoolers with high internalizing problem behavior rates…

Examined relative roles of aggression and other dysregulated behaviors in predicting adolescent peer problems and antisocial behavior. Found that aggression and withdrawal were stable and linked to peer difficulties in elementary school and adolescence, but indicated significant risk for adolescent rejection, victimization, and antisocial activity…

A study examined early indicators of school adjustment and conduct problems, comparing the risk and resiliency characteristics of Latino elementary students who were typical (n=66), at-risk (n=77), had learning disabilities (n=18), and speech impairments (n=8). At-risk students showed lower grades, fewer study and social skills, and more problem…

Describes Storytelling and Rural Areas (SARA) program for children and families at Longreach School of Distance Education (Central Queensland). SARA promotes children's oral language skills, self-confidence, and social construction. Explores ways storytelling assists this development. Notes how SARA provides links between home and school and…

Examined how relational stressors and supports interface with aggression to influence early adjustment trajectories from Fall of kindergarten year to Spring of first grade. Found that with few exceptions, relational experiences predicted adjustment beyond children's aggressive risk status. Chronicity of aggressive risk status and relational…

Examined links between early risk and problematic developmental outcomes in adopted children during middle childhood. Found no direct relation between prenatal, perinatal, or preplacement risk factors and problematic socioemotional adjustment. With 12 high-risk children, proactive cooperation among the child's adoptive and birth family members on…

Assessed the impact of LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC), a historically black college, on students' adjustment to college, adjustment to faculty, study habits, social adjustment, and management of college life. Student surveys indicated that LOC positively affected students in all areas. Seniors scored higher than freshmen in all areas. Vocational…

This research article describes the English acquisition of three, young, high-achieving, Korean, bilingual students, their academic development and their social/psychological adjustment in school. All observations and interviews were conducted in the natural classroom setting. The Korean children underwent different school experiences, partially…