A Note On the Relationships Between MTAI and GZTS Scores For Three Levels of Teacher Experience

Abstract

Dropouts are not a homogeneous category, and the evidence indicates that many dropouts are capable of doing satisfactory work in high school. While some dropouts have limited intellectual ability, earn poor grades, are retarded in their grade placement, and are poor readers, many other dropouts do not face these particular problems.

Many of the apparent contradictions in the findings concerning dropouts can be resolved by distinguishing between early and late dropouts. Students with limited ability generally leave school early; capable dropouts tend to remain in school longer. Comprehension of the diverse data concerning dropouts requires specification of three types: 1) involuntary dropouts, 2) retarded dropouts, and 3) capable dropouts.     

A Comparison of the Extent of Educational Growth of Mentally Advanced Pupils in the Cedar Rapids Experiment

Abstract

Entering high school freshmen (N-421) during the 1971-72 academic year in a rural Arizona high school were evaluated as to their dropout potential on several criteria. Of the 154 identified as potential dropouts, 36 were randomly selected and received a special academic program and 118 were placed in vocational educational classes. A control group of 94 students was randomly selected from those assigned to the regular classroom. The special academic class was designed to hold potential dropouts in school, as w ell as to modify some of the negative attitudes toward school with which they entered as freshmen. It was found that the special academic group maintained their attitude toward school with no drop in attitude occurring. In contrast, the potential dropouts which were assigned to vocational classes showed a slight drop in attitude toward school while the control group showed a significant decrease. A lower dropout rate also was found among the special academic students than the other two groups, a fact which attests to the effectiveness of the program.     

Differentiating Characteristics of High School Graduates,Dropouts, and Nongraduates

Abstract

We used the records from students entering two high schools in 1981 to classify students as dropouts, graduates, nongraduates returning for a fifth year, add non-graduates who did not continue. Using data from the students’ permanent records, we found numerous significant differences among these groups, some evident as early as the third grade. Cutoffs were determined on several measures, indicating that dropouts could be differentiated with 66% accuracy in the third grade and with 85% accuracy by the ninth grade. Nongraduates, a group roughly equal in size to the dropouts, could be identified with 77% accuracy by the ninth grade. Various implications for intervention programs are discussed.     

A follow-along study of postsecondary outcomes for graduates and dropouts with mild disabilities in a rural setting.

Eighty-six students with mild disabilities living in a rural area who had graduated (n = 52) or dropped out of (n = 34) high school were interviewed at two points in time (7 months apart) about their employment, residential status, and participation in postsecondary education and training programs. Information was also collected on students' high school experiences (educational, vocational, and work) and the reasons they dropped out of school. Of the students who had graduated (Caucasian = 26, black = 25, and other = 1), 31 were male and 21 were female. Of the students who had dropped out (Caucasian = 18, black = 15, and other = 1), 22 were male and 12 female. It was found that the majority of graduates and dropouts were employed full-time at both interviews, and held jobs that paid above minimum wage and provided employee benefits, as well. Nevertheless, by the time of the terminal interview, graduates had worked proportionally more time since high school than dropouts and had been employed in their current job more than twice as long. Neither group of former special education students was particularly active in pursuing postsecondary education or training programs. Finally, these former students had participated in a limited range of educational and vocational experiences during high school, both in terms of diploma tracks and vocational education programs. The implications of the findings for long-term employment and community adjustment are discussed.     

Student Disengagement in Relation to Expected and Unexpected Educational Pathways

Students' different educational pathways were examined in relation to their disengagement during adolescence. The participants were Icelandic youth (N?=?832) who were followed from age 14 to 22. Based on their academic achievement at age 15 and educational attainment at age 22 they were classified into groups that took expected versus unexpected paths. The findings indicate that adolescents' behavioral disengagement (negative school behaviors) and emotional disengagement (academic disinterest, disidentification with school) differentiated according to their pathways. At age 14, those “at risk” academically who graduated unexpectedly showed fewer negative behaviors than the expected dropouts. Moreover, high achievers who dropped out unexpectedly showed more behavioral (negative behaviors) as well as emotional (academic disinterest, disidentification with school) disengagement compared to expected graduates. The following year (age 15), in general, disengagement increased among unexpected dropouts but decreased among expected graduates. Males and students from lower-SES backgrounds were generally more disengaged, and males from those backgrounds became more emotionally disengaged during their last year in compulsory school.     

A Technique for the Construction of a Teacher-Training Curriculum

ABSTRACT

Historically, students who fail to graduate from secondary school are considered as a single category of school dropouts. However, emerging literature indicates that there may be multiple subgroups of high school dropouts, termed a dropout typology. The authors’ purpose was to assess the extent to which a typology of dropouts was present in a large national dataset and to estimate the influence of the known covariates of dropping out on each of the subgroups. A growth mixture model was estimated using the Education Longitudinal Study 2002 (National Center for Education Statistics, n.d.) dataset and noncumulative grade point average during the first 3 semesters of high school. The model identified 2 main subgroups associated with dropping out, which accounted for 24.6% of the sample but contained 91.8% of the dropouts.     

The dubious promise of postsecondary vocational education: Its payoff to dropouts and graduates in the U.S.A.

The longitudinal study described in this report investigated the effects of postsecondary public and proprietary school vocational training on students' subsequent job success in the United States. The study surveyed dropouts and graduates from public and proprietary schools in six vocational programs in four major cities, and compared their personal characteristics, job placement and earnings. Results showed that, compared with graduates, dropouts were more frequently males who were black, older, of lower socioeconomic status, and more likely from public programs. Also, few students who studied for upper status jobs (accountant, computer programmer, and electronic technician) got those jobs, regardless of whether they had graduated from or dropped out of their vocational programs. On the other hand, the majority of students who studied for lower-status jobs, in which women typically predominate, (secretary, dental assistant and cosmetologist) successfully found those jobs. Further, graduates fared significantly better in job placement than dropouts. Finally, persistence in, and graduation from a program (persistence and graduation) were unrelated to students' first earnings. However, students in lower-status occupations had higher later earnings if they completed their programs. These results suggest that vocational training, which may be done more efficiently in proprietary than public schools, enhances placement and later earnings only in lower-status jobs.     

Factors Affecting the Academic Underachievement Of Bright High-School Students

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted in which a school principal implemented behavior modification programs with elementary school children. The behaviors dealt with were tardiness, absenteeism, and disruptions. Treatment conditions consisted of the principal: delivering tokens with monetary back-ups; assigning tasks; and engaging in activities with the children. In Experiments I and III returning to baseline conditions revealed that the principal was controlling the behaviors in question. In Experiment II a multiple-baseline design provided evidence that the principal was responsible for the observed increases in school attendance. AU three experiments resulted in changes in the Ss’ behavior in the desired direction.     

Manpower Forecasting and Rapid Labour Market Analysis: the demand for technical school graduates in Egypt

ABSTRACT

Debate about manpower forecasting has continued for 25 years or more. The investigation reported here is an attempt to add to the debate. It focusses on the provision of secondary technical education in Egypt and the demand for technical school graduates, especially graduates from courses in agriculture. Egypt's secondary school system is more strongly vocationally oriented than that in most other developing countries. The approach used in the investigation has two components: interviews with potential employers and interviews with secondary school graduates. The supply of graduates from agriculture schools is seen to be far greater than likely demand. Severe constraints on the effective working of the labour market are apparent.     

The Philadelphia Experiment

In this article, we discuss one of the central findings from our study of the long-term impact of school desegregation on adult graduates of racially mixed high schools: what graduates said about the impact of their schooling experiences on their current understandings about race, and on their lives in a racially diverse society. Of the 242 graduates we interviewed, nearly all said that their high school experiences left them more prepared for life in a racially diverse society than they otherwise would be. In addition, every one of the graduates interviewed said that their high school experiences left them with a deeper understanding of people of other backgrounds and an increased sense of comfort in interracial settings. Many of these graduates stressed the importance of their daily experiences of negotiating race in high school as one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of their education. These lessons, they observed, could not be gained through multicultural curricula or student exchange programs; rather, such insights, they believed, could only be learned by the daily experience of attending racially diverse schools. In this way, the experiences of these graduates speak to the need to reconsider our national retreat from policies designed to foster diversity in public schools.     

Science of Education

ABSTRACT

With more students pursuing university, it becomes essential for high schools to provide training that maximizes their graduates’ success. There is debate over whether an extra year of high school better prepares students for university. The authors used a nationally representative survey to contrast academic and employment outcomes between high school graduates of Grade 12 and Grade 13. Results suggest that Grade 13 graduates obtain higher grades in high school, are more likely to pursue university, and are less likely to be employed full time compared with Grade 12 graduates. Among students enrolled in university, Grade 13 graduates report higher grades in university and satisfaction with their program and do not transfer out of their programs compared to Grade 12 graduates. These findings highlight the importance of an additional year of high school to produce better prepared and more satisfied graduates.     

A Study of The Effectiveness of A Summer Remedial Course In English For College Freshmen

Abstract

Elementary school teachers (N= 260)employed by a suburban St. Louis school district responded to the Pupil Control Ideology Form (PCI). Twenty teachers were selected to comprise two experimental groups. Groups were determined by high and low scores on the PCI. The investigation was undertaken to determine if the pupil control ideology of teachers differentially affects their operational behavior in the classroom. There was no significant difference among the proportions of indirect verbal behavior, direct verbal behavior, or student verbal behavior. However, the humanistic and custodial Ss differed in the frequency of use of verbal behaviors categorized as (1) accepting and developing student ideas (3-3 cell); (2) lecturing, giving facts or opinions (5-5 cell); and (3) student initiated verbal behaviors (9-9 cell). In each case, the humanistic group utilized significantly more verbal behaviors classified as indirect than did the custodial group.     

The Measurement of Language: What is Measured and Its Significance

Abstract

Two groups of high school seniors were selected for study. One group had mothers who were college graduates and fathers who had not finished high school. The second group had fathers who were college graduates and mothers who had not finished high school. The Incidence of these patterns of parental education In urban and non-urban populations was noted. Several hypotheses regarding the relationship between ability and school achievement for these groups were tested. Expected differences between these groups of students and their peers were not found. Results suggested that family educational status is more related to plans to attend college than is family economic status. No evidence was found to support the picture of the all-powerful maternal Influence In the American family.     

A Comparison of Dropouts and Nondropouts on Participation in School Activities

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship of participation in the extraclass activities and dropouts in Kansas high schools of varying enrollments. Schools were chosen at random in each enrollment category with approximately equal number of students. A questionnaire was used to secure data on the dropouts and an equal number of nondropouts. The t ratio and analysis of variance were used with a .01 level of confidence.

The results show that lack of participation in school activities is a characteristic of the dropout in each enrollment category with 68 percent of the total being nonparticipators as opposed to only 4 percent of the nondropouts. Participation by dropouts was similar in all sizes of schools except in the smallest enrollment where a larger participation was noted.     

Socially Mobile Teachers and Classroom Atmosphere

Abstract

This is a study of a group of 628 new freshman high aptitude students (308 M, 320 F) who participated in an orientation and testing program in the summer of 1959, and who have since either graduated or withdrawn from The University of Texas. Responses to a questionnaire showed sex differences, and differences between voluntary and enforced withdrawals in reasons given for withdrawal, current status, and future plans. Analyses of variance by sex of psychometric data on graduates and the two withdrawal groups showed significant sex differences in the variables associated with success. These ranged through measures of aptitude, achievement, creativity, personality and interest. The desirability of classifying dropouts by sex and by whether they withdrew of their own accord or were dismissed is emphasized.     

The identification of high-school dropouts identified as learning disabled: evaluating the utility of a discriminant analysis function.

This study examined the utility of a linear discriminant function to distinguish between students identified as learning disabled (LD) who had either been released from high school under codes suggestive of school dropout (n = 213) or graduation (n = 92). The discriminant function was comprised of six variables--student ethnicity, reading ability, family intactness, family socioeconomic status, school transfers, and school-initiated interruptions. The analysis determined that differences between the LD dropout sample and LD graduate sample were sufficient to allow for a discrimination between the groups. On the basis of group differences the discriminant function that was constructed correctly classified 83% of the school dropouts and 46% of the school graduates, for an overall 73% accuracy rate. Those factors contributing most to the function were the number of district-initiated interruptions, school transfers, and family intactness. Based on the findings, implications for school districts and future research are noted.     

Relationships between Reading Flexibility and Speed Gains

Abstract

Thirty-nine Ss in a college developmental reading program were classified according to initial flexibility ratios. Low, medium and high flexibility groups were formed. The hypothesis that the more flexible readers would accrue greater speed gains was supported. An analysis of variance and later multiple comparisons showed the high flexibility group to be significantly different from the low and medium groups.     

Images of science teaching: An exploration of the beliefs of preservice secondary science teachers

Science graduates who enrol in a preservice Graduate Diploma of Education bring with them many years of experience as learners of science. These will have enabled them to develop implicit theories about what a science teacher is and does. Such implicit theories almost certainly affect the process of becoming a teacher, and may prove persistent despite the input from University and school during the Dip. Ed. year and beyond. This paper presents the research method and results obtained from a group of graduates on entry to their Diploma course. Concept maps and Repertory Grid interviews were obtained from eleven graduates, with varying life experiences. The paper presents analyses of these and explores emerging themes. Specializations: reflective teaching, general science and biology, curriculum and assessment.     

Labour Market Problems,and Psychological Well‐Being: A Panel Study of Canadian Youth in Transition From School to Work∗

Abstract

Four‐year panel survey data are used to examine the effects on psychological well‐being of unemployment, underemployment, educational satisfaction, and position in the transition from school to work among Canadian youth. Controlling on social support and baseline psychological status, labour market problems are found to have small, significant negative effects on feelings of self‐esteem, powerlessness, and depression among high school graduates, but not among university graduates. The effects of educational satisfaction and transition status are less clear.

     

In Memoriam

Abstract

There are two major views of cheating. The “general view” states that cheating Is an aspect of general morality. The “specificity hypothesis” considers cheating as a specific type of cultural transgression not related to other forms of transgressions. The purpose of this study was to test the different predictions of the two positions. Thirty male and 60 female Ss between 17 and 30 years of age were given an opportunity to cheat on an exam. Ss then answered a questionnaire which asked questions related to their religions, sexual, drinking and aggressive behavior. Cheating did not correlate with background material, guilt feelings or other transgressive behaviors. The results support a specificity view of cheating.