Whether random or nonrandom assignment to classes provides achievement benefits for students in grades 1 through 3 was studied with students, 499 randomly assigned and 658 not randomly assigned, from the Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) study. Results favor random assignment by grade 3 as measured by Stanford Achievement Test and Basic…

Rates of retention over a five-year period were analyzed by grade, school, and the socioeconomic status of each of 32 elementary schools in a Midwestern district. Analysis of variance revealed that schools of middle socioeconomic status retained students at a significantly higher rate than did schools of low or high socioeconomic status. (SLD)

Beginning in 1991-92, a local school district undertook a concerted effort to reduce class size in grades 1 through 3 to 1:15, the Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) Project. Achievement gains and research indicated that class size caused increased achievement and facilitated improved instruction. (SLD)

Data from 212 high school biology students in two schools in Louisiana show that students bring increased religious bias to the classroom due to a resurgence of religious conservatism and that these beliefs interfere with their abilities to view scientific evidence about evolution objectively. Those who did not believe evolutionary theory cited…

Relationships among principal leadership style, personality type, and school climate were studied in urban and rural contexts using responses from 34 principals and 166 teachers in three similar school districts. No relationship was found between personality type and leadership style, and no urban/rural differences were found for these variables…

Sixty-three preservice teachers were asked to respond to the idea of cheating while administering a standardized test to their students. Over half said they would cheat under certain conditions, such as benefit to the students or if the test was inappropriate. Cheating considered acceptable included giving hints, rewording items, and teaching to…

A typology of school climate that reflects aspects of a school's restructuring agenda was developed by exploring the participation of 637 teachers in 32 schools in decision making using Q-technique factor analysis. Three decision climates emerge: (1) curriculum focused; (2) school management focused; and (3) classroom management focused. (SLD)

At the age of 91, Ralph W. Tyler reflects on his long and distinguished career as an educator and educational researcher in this interview. He comments on educational reforms, teacher education, the uses of educational assessment, and the purpose of education. (SLD)

The Lasting Benefits Study is following up the effects of small class size on the achievement of elementary school students in Tennessee's Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio Project (Project STAR). Results show improved achievement for participants in small classes up through grade 3 that last at least through grades 4 and 5. (SLD)

Career-related perceptions of minority-group high school seniors were studied at two magnet high schools for the health professions in Texas. Results with 202 students show that most of these students retained an interest in the health professions and indicate that such programs can help attract minority students to the health professions. (SLD)

In a study conducted in two large school districts, 279 educational administrators expressed a strong desire for training in the major areas of educational leadership that were assessed: (1) the principalship; (2) problem solving; (3) planning for school growth; (4) personal awareness; (5) staff development; (6) long-range planning; and (7) the…

Four typologies assessed by the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children (C. Meisgeier and M. Murphy, 1987) (Extraversion-Introversion, Sensing-Intuition, Thinking-Feeling, Judging-Perceiving) were related to sex, race/ethnic group, intelligence level, and fluid/crystallized IQ discrepancy for 263 adolescents. The Thinking/Feeling index…

Computer simulations used to compare the Mahalanobis distance procedure with the Andrews-Pregibon statistic for identifying multivariate outliers result in the conclusion that the choice of procedure is not critical, since both identified valid data points as outliers. Results with false outliers as the dependent variable suggest the importance of…

Gender differences in scores on the Metropolitan Achievement Test (secondary students) and Stanford Achievement Test (elementary school students) were studied with 844 white students in Mississippi. Results are consistent with other recent research in which females outperformed males, supporting the contention that gender differences favoring…

Compares and contrasts piecemeal and whole-theme approaches to learning and teaching, considering the implications of simplifying learning tasks through isolation. Concludes that a whole-theme approach can enable educators to rethink existing ways of going about learning and teaching, and can lead to organizing learning environments in a radically…