Describes a course that trains students to become laboratory aids, focusing on course requirements, regular student duties, and rules/policies governing student behavior. Also offers suggestions for implementing similar courses in which students gain laboratory experience as well as learn laboratory skills. (JM)

Noting that the change to comprehensive secondary schools in Britain has not been accompanied by a rethinking of the former divided curriculum, the author presents a model for a compulsory core curriculum for all secondary students through the fifth year. (SJL)

In two Chicago high schools, students taking the traditional 40-week course in United States history were compared to students taking 4 10-week minicourses. No significant differences were found in learning or student attitudes. (SJL)

Attempted to cross validate a model of relationships among social--contextual factors, individual differences, and intrinsic motivation in 219 adolescent students in required courses and elective courses. Results indicate data are best represented by a model that separates social-contextual factors, individual factors, intrinsic motivation, and…

In a study involving students currently enrolled in their last semester of required mathematics and students already enrolled in nonrequired mathematics, it was demonstrated that a factor involving encouragement from significant others and subjective value placed on mathematics was the best predictor of taking nonrequired mathematics courses for…

A narrative describing the content and benefits of a one-semester economics course based on the text, "Choice: An Introduction to Economics" by Augustus J. Rogers III (2nd Ed., Prentice-Hall, 1974). (SJL)

This guide is intended to help senior high school social studies teachers develop elective courses on Canadian history, culture, and economic life. There are four modules: Regionalism; The French Fact; the Cultural Mosaic; Canadian Identity; and Canada in World Affairs. For each module concepts to be developed and understandings to be reached by…

This dissertation examines the basis for adoption and development of elective English programs in the school district of Philadelphia's 21 comprehensive senior high schools. Personal, structured, executive interviews conducted in the work setting with English department heads were the source of data for the study. It was hypothesized that elective…

The results of a survey of elective course offerings in New York City high schools show that the most popular electives are world area studies, ethnic studies, and behavioral sciences. (KM)

The Business Organization and Management course described here is designed to combat high school student burnout by involving students in establishing goals and planning projects. Through group work, case analysis, class participation, and examinations, students define the role of the manager and sharpen managerial skills. (SK)

In this 1979 replication of a 1974 survey, 234 high school principals provided information on perceived influences on curriculum, groups involved in curricular decision making, and use of 20 curricular arrangements and offerings, such as departmentalization, independent study, competencies, moral education, and unified studies. Five-year trends…

Study explored the motivations for students' choice of foreign languages. As long as foreign language study is elective in high schools, and as long as a variety of languages are offered, students' motivation will remain important for foreign language educators, especially in schools where various language programs compete with one another for…

The selection of elective science courses during high school is believed to act as a filter to future participation in science. This study investigated the research hypothesis that science self-efficacy and gender may be related to ninth grade student intentions to take elective science courses during high school. In this study, the Test of…

The Rumson-Fair Haven Senior Elective Program was developed and implemented by students, faculty, and administrators over the three-year period from 1971 to 1974. The program offers high school students who complete graduation requirements in the first three years of the four-year program a combination of the following options for the senior year:…

This curriculum guide outlines a multiphased elective English program for juniors and seniors in the Wilmington (Massachusetts) high schools. The alternative elective English courses are designed to increase academic achievement while allowing students to select courses on the basis of personal needs, interests, and future expectations. The five…