EFFORTS WERE DIRECTED TOWARD THE EXPLORATION OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE HOME AND SCHOOL BACKGROUND INFLUENCES OF FOURTH-GRADE CHILDREN, AND THE PATTERNS OF RESPONSE THROUGH WHICH CHILDREN MASTER CHALLENGE, REACT TO OPPORTUNITY, AND EXPRESS AND HANDLE CONFLICT. THIS CURRENT RESEARCH WAS BUILT UPON AN EARLIER STUDY WHICH ASSESSED THE EFFECTS OF MODERN AND TRADITIONAL SCHOOLING ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING OF CHILDREN. IN THE STUDY REPORTED HERE, THE SAME DATA HAVE BEEN USED, BUT THE ANALYSES HAVE BEEN EXPANDED, THE MATERIAL REORGANIZED, AND DIFFERENT ASPECTS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT INTO FOCUS. PROCEDURES, RESULTS, AND CONCLUSIONS DEAL WITH--(1) THE ANTECEDENTS OF CHILDREN'S MASTERY PATTERNS EXAMINING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN AND TRADITIONAL FAMILIES, AND (2) CHILDREN'S MASTERY PATTERNS, WITH THE HOME AND SCHOOL AS INFLUENTIAL FACTORS. PART TWO IS CONCERNED WITH CHILDREN'S INVOLVEMENT IN FAMILY LIFE. PART THREE FOCUSES ON ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCHOOL. (JC)