Describes effective methods for identifying and recruiting high risk African American ninth-grade girls to measure their fitness and assess the impact of fitness training on blood pressure. A multistage step test for fitness assessment in such girls is presented. The "Project Heart" aerobics class and control groups are described. (SM)

Investigates the effect of gender, age, and school grade on several career-exploration dimensions measured by the Career Exploration Survey. Results indicate that sex and grade-level were the most significant characteristics related to the adolescents' career-exploration behaviors, reactions, and beliefs. Discusses career-exploration…

In a sample of ninth-grade Jewish and Arab students who participated in planned binational encounters, investigates in-group biases as a function of (1) their perceptions of the encounter between the groups as interpersonal or intergroup contact and (2) their views of the status of their respective national groups in Israel as legitimate and…

Using survey methodology, this exploratory study examined the attitudinal and perceptual dimensions of body image among 1,272 eighth- and ninth-grade males and females from higher and lower socioeconomic backgrounds in Buenos Aires, Argentina (n = 195), Guatemala City, Guatemala (n = 212), Havana, Cuba (n = 213), Lima, Peru (n = 218), Panama City,…

In order to identify differences in risk factors for suicide attempts throughout adolescence, this study utilized a school-based survey of ninth (n = 1,192) and eleventh graders (N = 1,055). Suicide attempts were associated with cigarette and alcohol use, family violence, and depression for ninth graders and with illicit drug use, school violence,…

"Teacher to Teacher" provides a forum for teachers to share ideas, materials, and activities. In this article, the first teacher describes the effects the well-known novel "Bleachers" (John Grisham, New York: Doubleday, 2003) had on a ninth-grade english class. The novel bought to life the high school culture that the students found challenging.…

A growing literature has emerged concerning group-based difference in academic achievement, much of it pointing to the role of psychocultural factors. To study this observation, the educational achievement of children of immigrants, in the context of socio-psychological characteristics and ethnicity, is examined here. Data were taken from…

This study was conducted to examine the list of identifying factors and predictors of childhood physical abuse, extrafamilial sexual abuse, and incest among male and female adolescents in the general population. In 1989, a survey was administered to 6,224 9th and 12th grade students in public schools in Minnesota. The findings revealed that more…

During the 1983-1985 academic years, the Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse cooperated with the Omaha Public Schools to assess the effects of the videotape-based educational program "Resisting Pressures to Drink and Drive." This report is based upon curriculum activities of the 1983-1984 academic year and presents an…

This booklet presents tips for high school freshmen who plan to go to college after graduation. Reasons are given for students to begin college planning in the ninth grade and the issues of high school classes and money for college tuition are discussed. Basic skills needed in reading, writing, oral communications, mathematics, and reasoning are…

The inclusion of more sociology related materials in the 8th and 9th grade civics curriculum can push the margins of civics education to a more broadly conceived notion of citizenry and make civics and sociology more relevant to students' lives. The goal should be to help students understand society, not the discipline of sociology. Sociology…

THE APPLICATION OF GROUP COUNSELING TO EDUCATION WAS INVESTIGATED WITH RESPECT TO ANALYSES OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PERSONALITY INTEGRATION FOR USE WITH DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SOUND MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. SUBJECTS WERE 15 NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS, DIVIDED INTO 2 COUNSELING GROUPS AND CONSIDERED TO BE GIFTED UNDERACHIEVERS. EACH…

In recent years, over 1,000 middle schools of varying grade level organization have been established in 49 States. From an intensive study of materials published between 1961 and 1968 (listed in an appended bibliography), a basic rationale has been developed for the momentum of this trend. The new concept of the middle school (grades 6-8) is…

Describes a study devised to determine what changes occur in young adults' attitudes toward computers as a result of a computer training program and whether attitudes of boys and girls differ significantly before or after a computer training program. Data indicate girls on average have decidedly less positive attitudes than boys. (MBR)

A sample of 38 ninth-grade students was tested with a randomized response questionnaire designed to ask respondents sensitive questions with the assurance that responses would remain anonymous. Results of the investigation indicate that this technique can be used effectively with ninth-grade students and with large groups of individuals to obtain…