During the 1985-86 school year, Mt. Diablo High Schools (Concord, California) implemented a new attendance policy requiring that any student with 15 days of absence (including excused) would receive a failing grade. Since then, half of the district's six high schools have adopted alternative attendance programs. In 1990, Northgate and College Park…

Recounts a recent attempt of a New Zealand secondary school to resolve a challenge to the tradition of compulsory school uniforms, and questions the validity of some assumptions implicit in much of the contemporary writing about educational decision-making. (Author/IRT)

In this review of literature and research on homework, the author presents historical trends in attitudes by educators toward the role and effectiveness of homework. Definitions and categories of homework are provided, including a summary of widely cited professional opinions regarding its advantages and disadvantages. The results of major surveys…

At the beginning of the 1973-74 academic year alcohol usage was officially permitted for the first time in residence halls at the Twin Cities Campus of the University of Minnesota. To determine residents' perceptions of the effects of the change in drinking policy, interviews were conducted with 49 current dormitory residents, who had also lived…

This toolkit provides secondary school teachers with resources to conduct staff or student development on racism. It encourages teachers and students to question their own and others' views about racism, suggests practical and positive ways of tackling racism as a whole-school issue, and provides a set of desired outcomes against which schools can…

School policy that makes students responsible for themselves between academic classes offers the chance to develop self- discipline, self-reliance, and mature attitudes. (KJ)

The ways in which admissions and orientation policies and practices help undergraduates form appropriate expectations for college are examined through examples of 14 colleges and universities, whose recruitment materials communicate the institution's educational purposes and orientation activities affirm institutional values and make students feel…

Educators' avoidance of the racism issue has two damaging consequences for the classroom: diverting minority students' attention from academic pursuits and sending White students the message that racial prejudice is acceptable. Educators meed to counteract the racism problem by clearly articulating expectations, punishing racist behaviors, and…

Some readers will recall Newhart, Bob Newhart's television series from 1982 to 1990. In it, he played Dick Ludon, a New Yorker who moved to Vermont with his wife to run an inn. Stephanie Vanderkellen, a snotty, rich, young woman, worked there as a maid to appease her parents. Her boyfriend, Michael, was not rich but was as snobbish as she was.…

This study sought to determine which classroom and school policies and practices high school students perceived as affecting their academic and social engagement with their school. In each of six high schools in Florida, administrators, counselors, teachers, and 10th and 12th grade students were interviewed. In-depth interviews were conducted with…

School administrators are crucial in developing and implementing an effective, comprehensive school Suicide-prevention program. They should develop a districtwide policy, establish school-level crisis-intervention teams, provide teacher training, ensure appropriate responses to threats, include suicide-prevention education in the curriculum, and…

A study of 6,947 students (ages 12-19) found a construct of "System of Law" that measured knowledge of school rules and consequences for infractions led to less disorder. A construct of "Secure Building" that included variables showing physical and personnel-based actions to run a secure building led to more disorder. (Author/CR)

Examines attitudes of high school students towards the protection of civil liberties in School governance policies and studies effects of student and school variables on governance attitudes. Little support exists for civil liberties when the exercise of those liberties is seen at threatening the interests of peer group members. (Author/AV)

This book is designed to help all staff in schools prevent one of the major impediments to their attempts to raise standards and improve schools, and that is the issue of bullying amongst pupils. The book highlights and unravels some of the complexities of bullying and provides ideas and practical solutions to the problem of writing policy and…