Research indicates that a positive school climate is an important factor in school effectiveness. This paper reviews the major determinants of school climate and also reports the findings of a survey of 246 teachers and 76 principals in rural public schools in central Tennessee concerning three school climate factors: motivation and morale;…

Child abuse, ranging from neglect to sexual abuse and murder, is a serious problem in contemporary America. Abuse may be defined as any force that compromises a child's capacity to achieve his physical and psychological potential. This study sought to determine the personal incidences of child abuse experienced by high school seniors in public…

The reality of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related diseases is a matter of great concern to school personnel. Because no evidence that AIDS is spread through casual contact exists, most authorities assert that school and daycare situations do not pose a threat for transmission of the disease. To determine the views of…

In an effort to acquaint educators in social studies with resources in law-related education, this resource guide lists national and state organizations and coordinators and materials available through those organizations as well as those from various publishers and the ERIC database. Selected teaching and learning materials in various media are…

The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of at-risk students and review certain circumstances that affect their decisions to leave or stay in school. Mail survey responses were collected from 272 students (out of a total of 300) in 15 rural Tennessee high schools. The subjects were identified by their guidance counselors as being…

The Tennessee Career Ladder Program consists of a five-step classification system in which Level II teachers (who must have taught for 8 years) and Level III teachers (who must have taught for 12 years) are at the summit with the longest contracts and highest pay. This study surveyed 474 Level II and Level III teachers to determine the perceptions…

Most school systems in Tennessee raise additional revenue for instructional and extracurricular activities through fund raising projects and voluntary student fee collections. Responses to a questionnaire by 129 principals (from a sample of 15) were analyzed to determine the extent, diversity, and results of fund raising activities and fee…

A 20-item questionnaire determined and compared attitudes of 996 public school teachers and administrators in 83 rural Tennessee counties concerning curriculum development, course content, school environment, individualized instruction, philosophical parameters, student evaluation, and extracurricular activities. Both teachers and administrators…

Communication is crucial to a good school-community relationship. In Middle Tennessee, parents in 52 schools and 20 school systems were surveyed to determine how they received school information and how they would prefer to receive the information. Previous research suggests that schools can develop a reputation of candor and dependability through…

Previous research shows that successful schools have competent principals. In the Upper Cumberland Development District of Tennessee, 350 teachers and 350 parents were surveyed concerning the capability of principals in the district's most efficient schools. Eighty-four percent of the teachers and 78 percent of the parents completed the…

Legal aspects of college teaching and administration are discussed. The faculty and college are liable by tort law for students in three ways: intentional acts or interference, strict liability, and negligence. Intentional acts include improperly installed or dangerous equipment, while strict liability cases usually occur where fault is not…

Today's high school students encounter a diversity of complex issues affecting both their family and school relationships. It is necessary for parents, school personnel, and students to understand each other's perspectives. In recent years there has been a change in family patterns, societal expectations, and lifestyles. These changes have had a…

A total of 516 teachers in 25 school systems in Middle Tennessee responded to a questionnaire relating to their attitudes about the Career Ladder Program in Tennessee. The program delineates a five-step classification system: (1) probationary teachers; (2) apprentice teachers; (3) career level I teachers; (4) career level II teachers; and (5)…

A sample of teachers, principals, supervisors, superintendents, school board members, and county commissioners across Tennessee responded to questionnaires concerning funding patterns and revenue sources for public education. Except for the commissioners, who are the funding agents for school systems in Tennessee and are responsible for setting…

A statewide questionnaire survey of 180 Tennessee public school principals examined their perceived degree of participation in decision-making in six policy areas and compared it with their degree of satisfaction with the decisions made in those areas. The principals were selected from three sets of school systems: those which had had formal…