Studies educational experiences and attitudes of 200 Chinese secondary school students in Manchester (England). Findings support the claim that most were confident in their school work and most liked school. Incidents of racial bullying may account for the low self-esteem of some of these students. (SLD)

Examines ties between music and mathematics and how high school students perceive the relationships. Using survey data for 124 high school music students in New York City, the study shows that the majority of the students dislike mathematics and see mathematics as a discipline devoid of creativity or emotion. (JB)

Analyzes the responses of 1,344 African-American and 580 white female adolescents, and 852 African-American and 520 white male adolescents to questions regarding their perceived ideal ages for marriage and first birth. Findings reveal differences between white and African-American adolescents' responses. Comparisons suggest that the adolescents'…

Perceptions about speakers of Spanish, English, and Chinese were studied among 303 Spanish- and English-speaking Hispanic students in grades 3 and 8 in the southwestern United States. Students' prior experience with a language increased favorable attitudes toward the language, solidarity with its speakers, and perceptions of status associated with…

Studied high-ability, high-achieving students in an urban high school over 3 years. Identifies factors that enabled these students to achieve, including belief in self, supportive adults, high-achieving peers, challenging classes, personal characteristics, and family support. (SLD)

This document is a collection of writings by refugee and minority children from the George Orwell School in London (England) and the Montessori College in Oost, Amsterdam (the Netherlands). About one-third of the students at the George Orwell School, were refugees. These students were aged 11 to 16 years old. About 30 to 40% of the students at the…

The motivation to learn of African American high school students was examined by asking them about their favorite and least favorite classes. Two hundred and seventy-five students attending three urban high schools were randomly selected from their history classes to respond to a questionnaire on their perceptions of ability, goals, and reasons…

A study examined family influences on reading motivation in Latino children. Surveys and interviews with 18 Latino students in an urban southwestern elementary school and their parents indicated that as domestic workload increased, the value children placed on reading decreased. The more time families spent together and on religious literacy…

Argues that rigorous, detailed academic standards are driving school improvement efforts instead of student needs as voiced by the students themselves. Offers support, through student interviews, for the notion that a challenging, integrative, and exploratory curriculum should be the standard for developmentally responsive practice and that this…

Examines perceptions of economically disadvantaged youth toward their futures and toward their mentors in a mentoring program. Findings for 27 10th graders demonstrate that those who view mentors as role models outperform their peers. Role modeling makes a difference in student achievement motivation. (SLD)

Interviewed 38 inner-city Black and Latino adolescents in a precollege tutorial program. Findings show students' difficulties in leaving their old peer groups and embracing the idea that they could achieve in school. Addresses implications of the findings for policy, assets, and problems. (SLD)

Self-report surveys of urban middle and high school students assessed changes in their motivation as they entered and exited an alternative learning program that emphasized academic skills, self-esteem, and social skills. Students who completed the program experienced increases in extrinsic motivation, self-esteem, and persistence toward learning…

This study examines school and work barrier beliefs about the limitations of education for future career rewards and perceived supports for attaining the educational and career aspirations of low-income, inner-city, African American, Hispanic/Latino(a), and Caribbean immigrant youth. The authors find that higher levels of school and work barrier…

Risk and protective factor indices were developed to examine vulnerability to drug use among Latino high school students. Survey data was collected from 516 Latino 9th and 10th grade youth in the Los Angeles (California) area. Frequency and quantity of use data were collected for a range of drugs including inhalants, cocaine, and other hard drugs.…

Changes in student perceptions over the first year of high school and the interrelations of student and student-reported mother, father, and teacher perceptions form the basis of this study. Self- and task-perceptions as well as utility judgments are measured in two subject domains, mathematics and English, since the transition to high school has…