Presents a response to the article that responded to the author's original paper on dialog regarding the politics of educational research, policy, and practice, explaining that new analyses will soon be available on the research-dialog/dissemination-policy-practice cycles occurring within an educational improvement project in several developing…

This longitudinal study in London (England) examined changes in student attitudes toward school and schoolwork, ethnic and sex differences, and associations between attitudes and achievement. Black, and white urban students completed interviews, self-concept measures, and achievement tests from ages 7-16 years. Results found few direct…

The effect of coeducational and single-sex secondary schooling on female students' academic achievement was examined. Reexamination of earlier survey data from Northern Ireland studied six outcomes related to student performance on public examinations. Results indicated a small achievement advantage for single-sex schooling (not significant…

This study of British primary and secondary teachers and higher education faculty examined teachers' and administrators' responses to government reforms in preservice teacher education. Results indicated that predictions of collapse and major disruption have not materialized, but that systemic instability and fragility raise questions about…

Reports a national survey of Scottish primary school teachers that examined their confidence about teaching science, technology, and other curriculum areas. Results indicated that the teachers were less confident about their knowledge and teaching of science and technology than nearly all other curriculum areas. (SM)

Educators have the responsibility to encourage youth to aspire by providing inspiration, realism, the experience of mastery, and respect. Schools should hire "interesting" staff, become smaller, arrange schedules so students have time to pursue their interests, and be flexible. Rural schools have many of these conditions; the potentials are there,…

Drawing on prior research on aspirations and achievement motivation, a view of aspirations is proposed that incorporates the present and future--a student with aspirations undertakes various activities for both their inherent value and enjoyment and their connection to future goals. Social comparison theory teaches that group pressures may limit…

Surveys of 11th- and 12th-grade students from rural schools in 21 states and their parents and teachers revealed significant coefficients of concordance among the three groups' expectations for adulthood. While aspirations for personal and economic success were highly prized, community-minded goals for civic responsibility were ascribed far less…

Interviews with 33 teenagers from three small rural Midwest towns examined how they saw themselves, their families, friends, communities, and futures. Interview excerpts illustrate ambivalence about rural experiences, desire to move elsewhere, and Hispanic students' experiences with racism, but also convey positive attitudes about family, friends,…

Surveys of 158 West Virginia Governor's Honors Academy (GHA) students and 644 seniors in rural West Virginia high schools suggest that, compared to the latter, GHA students are less alienated; are not more eager to leave their community; exhibit stronger modern dispositions, but not weaker rustic dispositions; and are equally satisfied with their…

A shortened and revised Student Aspirations Survey was administered to 1,160 students in rural middle schools and high schools. Evidence of construct validity was considerable for student responses to the aspirations scales and very limited for student responses to the school climate scales. Suggestions for improvement of score interpretation are…

The New England Association of Schools & Colleges' Rural Partnerships for Students' Success Project is a three-year project to improve equity and access to postsecondary education at four rural high schools. The project links institutions' ability to meet accrediting standards to efforts to raise student aspirations by changing school culture and…

Cites statistics characterizing the growing problems faced by students, such as violence, drug use, declining trust, and cheating. Summarizes the contributions of this issue's articles with regard to the influence of early experience on aspirations, and observes that surveys and interview techniques can enrich understanding of the problems and…

Provides a statistical profile of the current state of music research as well as recommendations for future research. These recommendations explore and define approaches including the acquisition of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, the importance of philosophical inquiry, and the definition and isolation of variables affecting musical…

Reports on a study that investigated possible effects of visual information on non-music students' cognitive responses to music. One group rated the affective response of musical excerpts from the film "Fantasia" without the accompanying video while another rated the excerpts with the video. Reveals little significant difference between the two.…