This paper attempts to refute current emphases on supposedly increased numbers of "students at risk." It is claimed that such terminology usually includes students who drop out, who become teenage mothers, or who are illiterate. Data are presented in tabular form demonstrating that all three of these "risk behaviors" are at their lowest in…

A program, in Rhode Island, to reduce student referrals to special education programs is evaluated in this study together with its impact on classroom teacher policy. The Classroom Alternative Process (CAP) addresses strategies for regular education teachers to remediate students' problems prior to, or instead of, referral to special education.…

This report examines the problem of misclassification of children into classes for the educable mentally handicapped (EMH) in the Chicago (Illinois) Public Schools. The report claims that 7,000 out of 12,000 students assigned to EMH classes do not belong there and could be moved back to regular classes with extra help; most of these misclassified…

This study examined adult attitudes toward infants labeled premature. Fifty-two subjects, including infant specialists, experienced special educators, and preservice special educators, viewed a videotape of 9-month-old infants, each labeled full-term or preterm and male or female. A questionnaire administered after viewing the videotape rated each…

This investigation sought to determine the extent to which examiners' evaluations of writing performance were influenced by the learning disability label and to identify mediating variables which modify expectancy effects. Forty-four preservice regular education teachers were randomly assigned to one of two expectancy conditions (learning-disabled…

The study, involving 100 children (11 and 12 years old), was designed to generate descriptive data regarding the behavioral and psychometric characteristics of exceptional children in the public schools. A review of the literature revealed that it is difficult to make a differential diagnosis among educable mentally retarded (EMR), emotionally…

This paper examines the migration and settlement history of Asians into the United States and the interaction of the major Asian immigrants with each other and with American society. An important thesis is that, because the differences between Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are much greater than the similarities between them, they should no…

A number of studies of deaf adolescents, deaf college students and deaf females have shown that stereotyped aspirations and notions of sex-typed occupational roles are typical of deaf subjects. Deafness, like gender, represents a handicap for holding certain jobs. Societal pressure to fit the doubly stereotyped occupational roles mandated by their…

Papers presented at this conference relate to redefining conceptual and program parameters for educating handicapped children and serving handicapped young persons previously unserved or underserved by the public schools. The papers address critical issues, legislation and litigation, program implications, and program practices. (Author/MLF)

Provided are the proceedings of the Special Study Institute conference on Fostering Positive attitudes Toward the Handicapped in School Settings sponsored by the Division for Handicapped Children of the New York State Education Department. Presentations include the following topics: rationale for the conference (by Samuel Wallach); a review of…

The labeling theory of deviance is used as a basis from which to comment on the dynamics of the labeling process in schools in general. Several research studies have demonstrated the self-fulfilling prophecy of labeling techniques. Four types of behavior can be distinguished: behavior that breaks a rule and is labeled as deviant; behavior that…

Efforts to unify categorical programs for low-achieving elementary school students must address instructional validity issues (including similarities/differences between learning disabled and remedial students in instructional levels, learning rates, and learning styles) and political validity issues (including protection and equitable…

Critiques the assumptions about the nature and meaning of disability advanced in social-psychological writing, suggests the origins of these assumptions, and proposes a return to a Lewinian/minority-group analysis of the situation of people with disabilities. Introduces the other articles in this issue. (Author/ BJV)

The ethnic overrepresentation of students in special education programs has been recognized for decades. African Americans tend to be significantly over-represented in disability categories and underrepresented in gifted programs. While Hispanics and Native Americans are not over-represented in special education programs, they are in certain…

Because of increasing numbers of children from biracial/bi-ethnic families attending childcare programs and increasing awareness of cultural diversity, and in recognition of the connection between a child's success and his or her racial/ethnic self-esteem, this curriculum is intended to help childcare providers integrate activities and materials…