At a Virginia private school, a student-led organization inspired by the National Coalition Building Institute works to end minority groups' mistreatment. In a comfortable, small-group setting, participants examine information and misinformation about themselves and others. Sharing a universally painful human experience is the starting point. (MLH)

Surveys of students in two private schools in northeastern states showed that antigay bias is pervasive (beginning with middle schoolers), involves mostly boys, arises in unstructured spaces, and is frequently overlooked by teachers. Schools considering interventions should recognize the import of sexual identity and respect, set precedents, and…

A boy's struggle between connection and autonomy finds different expression as he grows. Most boys have a limited emotional repertoire for managing conflict, adversity, and change. Our culture supports emotional development for girls and discourages it for boys. Developing an emotional vocabulary is a first step. (MLH)

Considers some of the obvious causes of our nation's verbal crisis. Presents methods for treating symptoms at the college and secondary level and prescribes preventive measures at lower levels that will heighten verbal awareness, interest, and skills. (Author/RK)

The director of Woodberry Forest Summer School outlines the implementation and operation of his program as a model for similar endeavors. (SJL)

A basic premise of the writing for real approach is that, to teach students to write, one must reverse the traditional literature-writing sequence, by which writing experiences are derived from reading selections. It is crucial to allow students to first write about their own experiences and environment. (Author/SJL)

Presents a rationale, based on Judeo-Christian principles, for involving boarding school students in social service work. (SJL)

Drawing on his own experiences as a student and as an English teacher, the author considers the learning value of the marks and comments teachers make on students' compositions. (SJL)

Popular culture now considers marijuana harmless, but research shows it has definite physiological and neurological effects, effacing memory and attention and producing cell damage and learning deficits. Young people turn to pot to escape the emotional pressures of adolescence. Parents and schools can help adolescents by setting firm prohibitions.…

Lacking stable values and a real role to fulfill, youth in our society feel disconnected. To encourage a sense of belonging and importance, our schools and colleges should offer students a more humanistic education and closer personal involvement with their teachers. (SJL)

Noting potential conflict between the two most-frequently stated goals of independent schools, academic excellence and dedicated concern for the individual, the author discusses ways to achieve both. (SJL)

Suggests that private day schools cannot imitate boarding schools in offering a full "menu" of academics, athletics, and the arts to each student. Both student interests and parental finances would be better served if these three components were separated into optional tracks, each with its own tuition cost. (SJL)

Many dyslexic children are unusually capable in subjects that do not depend on language, and they may have leadership qualities that other children admire. Preparatory schools can, at minimal cost, make alterations in coursework requirements to accommodate the different thinking and learning patterns of dyslexic children. (Author/SJL)

A program geared toward high school students is described. It is independent of the curriculum, and goes beyond discussions of alcohol use to tackle the larger issues of life, death, and well-being. (Author/KC)

A teacher from England discusses democratization of Milton Academy, a private school in the United States, and describes how students participate in political activities and school affairs. He also compares the curriculum and life at Milton to that at a secondary school in England. (KC)