A study investigated whether Future Farmers of America (FFA) members and non-members differed in their perception of FFA programs and services and whether their perceptions were influenced by gender and ethnicity, enrollment choice, prior enrollment in an agricultural class, block scheduling, grade level, and extracurricular activities. A…

Professional educators, practitioners, and educational researchers should reflect upon and be self-critical of their professional attitudes and activities. Success in achieving educational goals depends upon a change in predominating attitudes and recognition of interdependency. (Author/CJ)

The study examined the efficacy of systematic team placement and individualized educational plans (IEPs) on enhancing the social integration of 200 educable mentally retarded and learning/behaviorally disturbed children into regular elementary classrooms. (Author)

A study investigated the effectiveness of a therapeutic motor development program in increasing the social adjustment and peer acceptance of a mainstreamed 10-year-old educable mentally retarded boy. The motor development program was based on the games analysis model and involved the S and 13 of his normal classmates. (Author/DLS)

Examines two seminal films of adolescent rebellion, "The Wild One" and "Rebel Without a Cause." Argues that both films expressed a discontent with, and acted as a critique of, the complacency and conformity of the postwar United States. Discusses the films' own ambivalent attitudes to issues of conformity and alienation. (MJP)

An approach to assessment is described in which elementary children's motivation to learn and perceptions of ability and social acceptance are measured, in addition to the more traditional ability and achievement measures. Case studies of 4 gifted children (ages 7-10) are presented to investigate how individual differences in self-perception and…

Camps for children with serious diseases or disabilities are becoming more common. These camps provide children and their families with ongoing support systems and allow children to interact with peers who accept them for who they are while having fun. Counselors with similar conditions make good role models. Camps sponsored by four national…

A relatively new method of helping pediatric cancer patients cope with their illness is specially designed summer camps. Camp helps children with cancer address psychological effects of the disease, bodily changes, and self-concept, and helps parents and siblings cope. Sidebars present resources and tips on incorporating children with cancer into…

Compared to classmates with low and average reading achievement, 32 intermediate-grade students with learning disabilities (LD) had lower peer acceptance, lower feelings of self-worth, fewer positive nominations, and more negative self-perceptions regarding social acceptance. Different patterns of social and behavioral functioning distinguished LD…

Reviews the literature supporting cooperative learning as a means to promote social and cognitive growth among handicapped children in a classroom environment. In an analysis of three studies, cooperative learning strategies were shown to increase the chance that mainstreamed children would be accepted by classmates and show positive gains in…

A study involving 47 male and 51 female third and fourth graders analyzed the relation between five subtypes of aggressive behavior and sociometric status as assessed via ratings by peers and by eight teachers. Social status and gender were significantly related to type of aggression exhibited. (TJH)

Children's behavior and sociometric status were rated in kindergarten and first grade. Mothers provided data on family ecology. Rejected children were more likely to come from low-SES families in which restrictive discipline was used, and were more aggressive and less academically skilled than accepted children. Children whose SES improved across…

This study compared perceived peer and teacher acceptance as well as self-esteem of 16 elementary students with learning disabilities (LD) who receive services in traditional resource rooms, 16 LD students taught in regular classrooms through collaborative consultation and cooperative teaching, and 16 regular education students. Results showed…

Describes the implementation and supports the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral group counseling game, the Social Skills Game (Berg, 1989) in enhancing social skills, as measured by the Walker-McConnell Scale of Social Competence and School Adjustment, of third- to sixth-grade children with learning disabilities. (LKS)

A sociometric rating scale and a measure of social problem-solving skills were administered to 61 Chinese kindergartners. In comparison to Canadian children examined in an earlier study, Chinese children were less accepting of each other, less prosocial, and more authority oriented in social problem solving. (BC)