Although Jonathan Kozol is well-informed about choice program imperfections, schools of choice are superior to traditional schools. In places like East Harlem, school choice is helping transform youngsters from captive, disenfranchised malcontents to true students involved in their education. The challenge is to make every district school worthy…

Discusses how private schools differ from public schools, noting how private schools create meaning via cultural attributes and suggesting potential pitfalls in eschewing tradition in response to external pressures. Private schools must understand the balance between tradition and innovation to avoid losing their roots or becoming obsolete. (SM)

Researchers used the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to examine the prevalence of health risk behaviors of students attending an alternative high school (AHS) and students attending a regular high school (RHS). More AHS than RHS students engaged in health risk behaviors and initiated risk behaviors at younger ages. (SM)

Examines factors influencing choice of a new school, using data from a large-scale study in Wales. The "domino effect" sometimes covers three generations; decisions made today reflect, but are not identical to, past decisions. Simple reproduction cannot explain this diversity. Consumer nostalgia may lead schools to conservatism and…

Discusses one private school's adoption of a highly rigorous curriculum that emphasizes western civilization, shunning academic fads in favor of the classics. This course of western studies goes from 5th through 9th grade. The morally informed curriculum is guided by Christian faith and moral standards. In many cases, teachers develop their own…

Examined cross-sectional trends and contextual influences in the development of private speech among preschool children in Montessori and traditional classrooms. Found that diminished make-believe play, greater teacher direct involvement, and heightened time spent in transitions largely accounted for a lower incidence of private speech. (JS)

This paper presents the development and validation of a two-level hierarchical cost model for tertiary education, which enables prospective students to compare the total cost of attending a traditional Baccalaureate degree education with that of the same programme taken through distance e-learning. The model was validated by a sample of Greek…

The purpose of the study reported here was to determine whether pupils in an open classroom differ from traditionally taught pupils on four variables: creative thinking, creative writing, independent decision-making in performing tasks, and self-confidence when facing a new situation. (Author)

The problem of this study was whether there was greater improvement in cognitive abilities and affective behaviors of disadvantaged black students in an open education program as compared with a traditional education program. Two random samples were drawn from the sixth grade population of a middle school. Ninety students were selected from the…

A five-year study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying intensities of family life education services on samples of high and low-income families (110 of each) in Montreal. The purpose was to provide these families with similar programs for one year and to study them longitudinally for three years to determine whether the programs…

The study tests hypotheses derived from the proposition that open education promotes self-concept. The Sear's Self-Concept Inventory, yielding scores in six self-concept "areas," was administered to 316 students, ages 9 to 12, from six suburban schools. The Walberg-Thomas Scales rated each school as to degree of openness. No significant…

Middle school principals must continue to provide leadership for staff development programs. As the instructional leader of the middle school, the principal faces the challenge of assisting both new and experienced teachers in developing teaching strategies that are consistent with the characteristics and needs of transescent students. At the same…

An analysis of teacher attitudes and practices in open and traditional school facilities. (Author/MLF)

Attempts to learn whether or not there are differences in both academic achievement and the assumption of responsibility for academic success or failure as a function of open versus traditional classroom experience at the end of the third academic year. Also assess the contribution of the sex of pupil to differences in the above variables.…