Responds to a case study in this issue that discussed the differing academic achievement of two at-risk college students. Suggests the need to look beyond the disability labels applied to students. Suggests considering cognitive motivational factors such as beliefs, goals, and expectations, as well as the results of previous institutional…

If English teachers are going to clean up language and strive toward literacy, they need to stop using phrases that are meaningless, such as "prior knowledge,""dyslexia,""learning disabilities," and "at-risk." The persistent misuse of language moves the United States closer to becoming a remedial nation.…

Past research has established clear behavioral differences between Type A and Type B individuals. The manner in which these behavioral differences are represented in the self-definitions of Type As and Bs was examined in a group of 42 college students. The existence of Type A and B self-schemata was investigated using two tasks designed to measure…

Images drawn from popular media as well as professional stereotypes impede the integration of the pharmacist into the health care team. A course at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, designed to study stereotypes, is described. (Author/MLW)

Since attitudes, expectations, and practices related to minorities and handicapped individuals are similiar, it is suggested that teacher education programs for these groups also be similar. Compatible components of special education and multieducational teacher competencies are discussed. (DF)

A quality-assessment study was conducted at a university mental health service to review diagnostic practices, using the third edition of the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders." Diagnostic practices of the staff and problems with student record keeping are discussed.…

This article presents knowledge about disability issues that seven undergraduate students constructed through participation in a semester-long service learning class. In-depth interviews and examination of reflective journals revealed that students used their experiences to question the nature of relationships with people with disabilities, the…

Recounts a classroom exercise in which students examine archaic ethnic slurs aimed at white Europeans (biddy, Dutch bargain). They then consider why these are no longer in use. This leads to a comparison between U.S. immigrant groups of the past and the situation of current minorities. (MJP)

Attribution theory suggests that the existence of affirmative action programs may lead individuals to assume that a female or minority affirmative action appointee was hired for reasons other than legitimate qualifications for the job. This inference of incompetence could pose a tremendous barrier to competent women or minority individuals being…

Presented are the results of a study by the National Education Association of the experience of 43 schools in 3 selected districts (in Des Moines, Iowa; North Santa Barbara County, California; and Savannah, Georgia) in implementing Public Law 94-142 to provide a free, appropriate public education for the handicapped in the least restrictive…

Investigates the effects of label, child's gender and race, child's educational placement, and availability of definitional information on prognostic judgments for children with behavior problems. Undergraduate students (N=363) enrolled in teacher education read a vignette and completed a prognostic outlook questionnaire. Results indicate a…

Investigated the relationships between perceived ethnic injustices and processes of psychological disengagement among White, African American, and Hispanic American college students, examining perceived ethnic injustice and academic performance as predictors of devaluing and discounting. Student surveys indicated that broader beliefs about social…

The role of the faculty in helping the learning disabled student succeed on campus is discussed. It is suggested that faculty members who reject the learning disabled are at one end of the spectrum, while the faculty members who treat the disability as incidental while providing assistance are at the other end. The rejecting faculty member may…

This manual provides information on fighting verbal harassment on the school campus. Chapter 1, "Background," discusses the history and power analysis of vebal abuse and offers statistics about slurs and harassment (the widespread use of slurs, the damaging effect of slurs on people who are targeted by them, and how infrequently efforts…

This study examined the impact of facial plastic surgery, labeling (mentally retarded, normal, Down's syndrome), and level of knowledge of Down's syndrome on 127 student teachers' evaluations of slides of persons with such characteristics. Although there was no overall significant main effect for the pre-post operation condition, there was a…