Empirical findings on effects of teacher preconceptions of pupils' abilities on student performance are complex and contradictory. Some of the contradictions can be resolved by considering variables intervening between an expectancy manipulation (induced in the teacher by information provided by the investigator) and the evaluation of the…

This article gives statistics on suicide rates among children and adolescents of different ages. It describes the various reasons behind suicide in children and the symptoms of deep depression in children and adolescents. The author describes the suicidal student and the child survivor (of a suicidal death in the family) and suggests to the…

An emerging consensus to assure health services to all children must be translated into law with adequate funding. New codes should eliminate current irrelevant provisions and capitalize on the aggregation of students to permit development of cost-effective screening and preventive programs. The close connection between health problems and school…

The hyperkinetic label can impair self-image and create negative expectation. It should be used only with confidence in its accuracy and when its use confers help not otherwise available. Guidelines for appropriate diagnosis include prevalence considerations, teacher reports, extent of home difficulties, psychological testing and clinical…

This article offers three listings of signs and symptoms useful in detection of learning and perceptual deficiencies. The first list presents symptoms of the learning-disabled child; the second gives specific visual perceptual deficits (poor discrimination, figure-ground problems, reversals, etc.); and the third gives auditory perceptual deficits…

This article briefly discusses attitudes toward death in our culture and several research findings concerning death in children, adolescents, and adults. It then summarizes an independent study unit (developed from suggested course outlines by Dr. Daniel Leviton) compiled for advanced high school or college students or professionals wanting to…

A school nurse describes her participation in a new school-wide study of nutrition. Purposely choosing to work with young children (kindergarten and first grade) she held discussions on the nutritional need of babies and pets, planned and evaluated menus with the children, and played a nutrition game wherein children played the part of different…

The author describes her findings in teaching Health Education to remedial students at Queensborough Community College. She found that remedial students should receive assignments at the first class meeting and that they should use one textbook (which contains a summary and questions at the end of each chapter) rather than several. Frequent tests…

This short article describes a psychiatrist's experience teaching a unit on dinosaurs to a group of 16 normal children. He remarks upon the kindness and mutual cooperation apparent among the children and contrasts them with children undergoing therapy. He suggests that closer interaction between school officials and mental health workers would be…

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is described. A review of research related to symptoms, incidence, correlates, and causes of TMJ dysfunction in children is presented. (Author/MT)

Posters submitted by school-age children to poster contests sponsored by the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario were analyzed to gain insight into children's beliefs regarding the effects of alcohol use. (Author/MT)

The epidemiological, clinical, and public health aspects of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in children is reviewed. Evidence establishing modes of transmission is emphasized. Guidelines are presented to assist school staff in the educational management of children infected with the AIDS virus. (Author/MT)

About 700 Indiana high school students were administered a scale designed to measure the affective, cognitive, and conative components of teenagers' attitudes toward the use of alcohol. Findings are discussed. (Author/MT)

Peer-led, teacher-led, and expert-led interventions were conducted in six Vermont schools in order to test the effectiveness of each approach as a smoking deterrent on seventh grade students. Results are discussed. (Author/MT)

This article reviews research on the prevalence, classification, etiology, assessment, and treatment of childhood depression. Suggestions for school health personnel who directly or indirectly serve depressed children are given. (Author/MT)