It was hypothesized that teacher expectations for the future performance of a child and teacher attributions for that performance would not differ as a function of the categorical label (emotionally disturbed or learning disabled) assigned to the child. Results are discussed with regard to implications for mainstreaming. (Author/GK)

Educable mentally retarded children who are mainstreamed are likely to have social problems due to personological concerns (maladaptive behavior, labeling) and environmental concerns (teacher attitudes and expectancies, peer attitudes). (CL)

Results showed that there was significant difference in attitude depending on the label of the child--the Ss felt significantly less able to work with physically handicapped children than educable mentally handicapped or nonlabeled children. (PHR)

Teachers of gifted children read a descriptive vignette of a hypothetical gifted student and rated their willingness to refer the student for gifted program placement. Results showed that the 197 teachers were influenced by the presence of the educational label "learning disabled" and by the social class of the student. (Author/JDD)

Surveys educational consultants, psychologists, and teachers to determine levels of agreement and disagreement on the types of information which are necessary in eligibility decisions for students with learning disabilities. Finds general disagreement over the types of information on which eligibility decisions are based. Discusses implications of…

Describes the author's experiences as the parent of a son who struggled from preschool until high school graduation. Describes the lack of power and respect that parents of struggling learners feel and the damage to the student of being labeled a slow learner. Notes most teachers did not see his strengths, abilities, and interests, but only…

Investigated with 258 regular or special education teachers was the effect on teacher expectations of describing mildly handicapped children in terms of labeled (learning disabled, retarded, or emotionally disturbed) behavioral descriptions or of non-labeled behavioral descriptions. (MH)

Teachers read fictitious psychoeducational reports that were consistent, inconsistent, or absent with respect to a child's diagnostic label, then cumulative folders, then the report again. Their perceptions of child's characteristics changed in an adaptive direction for general adjustment, academic skill, and learning approach, and negatively for…

Israeli elementary school teachers graded a handwritten worksheet allegedly written by an "excellent" or a "weak" student. This ability labeling caused a significant expectancy bias effect. The effects of teachers' ethnic origins, preferred teaching methods, teaching experience, and views on Israeli school integration on…

Ten key issues and obstacles pertaining to mainstreaming are discussed, including redefining the relationship between special and regular education, the schock of normalization, recognition of physical and psychological barriers, teacher attitudes, labeling, and the individualized education plan. (DLS)

The difference between teacher and student description and recognition of elementary school student personalities are explored. (LH)

Primary teachers and intermediate grades students viewed videotapes of students displaying either Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or normal behavior, each labeled accordingly. Surveys indicated that the ADHD behavior, but not the label, had a significant negative impact on teachers' and peers' ratings. (SM)

This study examined the effects of labeling and personal contact on teachers' (n=72) attitudes toward low-achieving students. Overall, the results indicated that the label of the special class had a positive effect on teachers' attitudes, but that contact had a negative effect. (Contains references.) (Author/DB)

Explores literacy development over a three-year period of a child in a whole language, multiage classroom who also receives special education services. Contrasts the classroom teacher's holistic-constructivist views with the special education teacher's mechanistic, reductionist views; discusses implications of each; and calls for new, positive…

In a study on the effects of labeling, 78 fourth-grade Ss from a rural school containing an integrated special-education program viewed one of two videotapes that depicted a child demonstrating various kinds of academic and social behavior. (Author/PHR)