This paper provides an example of how elementary school curriculum leaders can be mindful of student intelligences and can utilize the strengths of their student populations. It presents the findings from a national study that examined how 17 schools using a curriculum based on Multiple Intelligences Theory improved the self-concept and positive…

A longstanding debate in education pits advocates of liberal curricula against advocates of "back-to-basics," fundamental education. The study described in this publication examined the long term results of a fundamental elementary school that began operating in August 1978 with 347 students. During the 1989-90 school year, the first…

Considerable research has focused on comparative studies of open and traditional classrooms which have used standardized test scores as well as measurements of self-perception, creativity, adjustment to school, classroom structure, and teacher control. This paper briefly reviews some of these research findings and discusses the implications of…

Although the literature abounds with speculation about open education, there are few experimental studies designed to test its effects. This research compared an open education program with a traditional program at the middle school level. Subjects were randomly assigned to comparison groups. Dependent measures included a self-concept scale, a…

This report describes work done on the project, "Individual Characteristics and Children's Performance in Varied Educational Settings," up to June 30, 1974. This research addresses two issues: the interaction of individual student characteristics with aspects of educational environments, and the relative educational benefits of…

Argues that traditional educational methods erode children's natural enthusiasm for learning. Suggests that reformers consider incorporating principles of Montessori education as a way to improve the present educational system. Replacing emphasis on performance and competition with respect for children's right to follow their own interests and…

This study investigated whether or not there is a difference in the academic achievement level maintained by a student after a transition has been made from a self-contained classroom to an open classroom. The sample included all the population in a fifth grade open classroom. The experimental group were from a fourth grade self-contained…

Social theory defines "ritualism" as the communal act of accepting the legitimate means to achieve while rejecting the goals. The innovative-school community accepts the goals; however, the legitimate means are rejected. Ninety-three teachers were surveyed in a high-performing high school and a low-performing high school to determine the…

One of Lewis Solmon's research interests is whether parents can choose the best schools for their children. This paper shows how economic principles predict parents would do a better job choosing schools for their children than do experts in government agencies. Three types of empirical research relevant to the hypothesis are reviewed: surveys…

One objective of this study was to discover whether education of students on the 45-15 plan differed from that provided on the traditional schedule. Another objective was to assess the attitudes of the educators, parents, students, and business people of Prince William County toward the two plans. The educational evaluation compared, across…

Research compared Mexico's television-based Telesecundaria (TS) with its more traditional secondary school counterpart, the Ensenanza Directa (ED). The data collected indicated that the TS schools tended to be located in poorer rural communities and to have larger classes and less adequate facilities; its students were generally older and from…

To assess the educational effectiveness of open plan schools, a standardized test of reading, spelling, and mathematics achievement was administered to grade 2 pupils in two open plan and ten conventionally constructed schools. Scores on all three measures, plus the average attained scores on an academic ability test, were not significantly…

This study compared the effects of multi-age classroom strategies to those of traditional classroom strategies on the academic achievement of fourth grade students in reading and math. Standardized test scores from 20 fourth-grade students in two multi-age third- and fourth-grade classrooms were compared to the scores of 20 students from 7…

To analyze the popularity and merits of the year-round school, this report reviews research and other literature on (1) the history of the year-round school including highlights of a few school district programs from 1800 to the present; (2) the academic, economic, and social impact of year-round schools; (3) school districts' concerns about…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were significant differences in the academic achievement of children attending three different types of school: a model "open" school, a comparable "traditional" school, and a traditional school with a student population from a higher socioeconomic area. Data based on…