Examines the social context of schooling of a cohort of 115 black males attending an urban high school between 1986 and 1989. The article draws on chaos theory to explore the systematic methods of avoidance schooling behaviors invoked by these students. It shows how school actions, policies, and procedures resulted in poor academic preparation and…

A scenario-based survey of 598 university students concerning test cheating found significant gender differences on measures of self-control, shame, perceived external sanctions, grades, and cheating intentions. Morals and grades were greater predictors in women's cheating intentions, while men were more affected by prior cheating and perceived…

While student difficulty with academic referencing is not new, it is apparent that many tertiary students are not skilled in following referencing conventions, are confused about what does and does not constitute plagiarism in the eyes of academics, and are fearful of the consequences. This paper begins by examining the cases of a number of…

Choice in education gained popularity as a means by which families can become involved in the education of their children. This case study addresses how the interests, needs, and objectives of secondary school students, and their parents as reported by the students, resulted in the choice between two high schools in a suburban district with a…

Couples a variety of criteria and actual and hypothetical examples to assist practitioners in identifying the values already being applied in their schools and classrooms through policy and curriculum, and to help them consider alternative approaches for transmitting values to students. (MBR)

Reports on a study of 2,553 students' attitudes toward aggression in schools. Finds differentiated results based on demographic data and with the students' personal involvement in the aggressive acts as either the perpetrator or victim. Discusses practical consequences of the study for schools. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the extent and distribution of several forms of aggression and violence in schools in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany). Includes responses from 2,382 persons in a representative sample. Finds a slight increase in violence during the past three years but a high frequency of verbal aggression. (CFR)

Argues that schools' efforts at boosting student self-esteem can backfire and create above-average rates of interpersonal and psychological problems, including aggression and violence. The benefits of promoting self-esteem are believed to be questionable and may ultimately be harmful. The problems caused by overinflating student self-esteem are…

Fiji is a multilingual country in the South Pacific with English, Fijian and Hindi being the official languages. As is inevitable in multilingual societies, language use is functional with Fiji Hindi and Fijian being the mother tongues of the two main ethnic groups in the country, the Indo-Fijians and the Fijians. English, because of Fiji's…

Sociologists define norms as configurations of belief about behavior expected in various situations or circumstances. Members of social groups share these expectations for behavior. Accordingly, norms embraced by student peer groups influence the behavior of their members, which, in turn, affects the learning experiences of college students. In…

"Harvard Education Letter" is published bimonthly at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This issue of "Harvard Education Letter" contains the following articles: (1) Making Schools Safer for LGBT Youth: Despite Signs of Progress, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students Say Harassment Persists (Michael Sadowski);…

A growing body of research shows school connectedness to be a powerful predictor of adolescent health and academic outcomes. This study advances a theoretically grounded definition of school connectedness and triangulates qualitative and quantitative methods to assess contextual correlates to school connectedness in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade…

This publication reports on a factfinding meeting held to discuss bias-motivated tensions at college campuses in Massachusetts. At that meeting three State Advisory Committees to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights were represented and heard testimony from student leaders, top administrators, concerned faculty members, and staff of the University…

IN A 3-YEAR STUDY OF PUPIL MALPERFORMANCE IN FIVE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MICHIGAN, THE FOLLOWING FACTORS WERE EXAMINED--(1) STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIORS, (SOCIAL CLASS, MOTIVATIONS, ETC.) AND (2) SCHOOL CONDITIONS AND PRACTICES. PERFORMANCE AND MALPERFORMANCE PATTERNS WERE FELT TO BE A RESULT OF THE INTERACTION OF BOTH…

A study of the satisfaction of one university's 600 business school graduates examined graduate attitudes about the cost and value of the education and services received while in college. The findings and their implications for institutional and program administration are discussed. (MSE)