School and Community Wellness: Transforming Achievement Using a Holistic Orientation to Learning

A comprehensive school and community wellness plan was developed and implemented to transform Lemon Grove Academy for the Sciences and Humanities, an urban school, where student achievement and faculty satisfaction has soared. The school has become the center for the local neighborhood where culture, language, and equity are valued. The school's Comprehensive Wellness Plan includes student wellness, family wellness, staff/faculty wellness, and environmental wellness.     

Psychologists in the schools of Nebraska: Professional functions

A survey of practicing school psychologists in the state of Nebraska was conducted to gather facts and opinions across a broad spectrum of topics. This article is based on one section of that survey which was concerned with profesional functions of the school psychologist. Five functions of the school psychologist were explored: Assessment, Consultation, Evaluation, Administration, and Intervention. Respondents were asked to rate a number of subactivities under each of these five major functions on a five-point scale in terms of importance. Each subactivity was rated from two Points of view: (a) the importance of the activity as the respordent perceived the ideal role of the school psychologist, and (b) the importance of the activity in the present job situation. Weekly time engaged in each subactivity was, recorded. Results indicate that Consultation was considered the most important function in both the hypothetical ideal situation and on the job, though a significantly greater amount of time was reported spent in Assessment.     

Calibration and Scoring of Tests With Multiple-Choice and Constructed-Response Item Types

This article discusses and demonstrates combining scores from multiple-choice (MC) and constructed-response (CR) items to create a common scale using item response theory methodology. Two specific issues addressed are (a) whether MC and CR items can be calibrated together and (b) whether simultaneous calibration of the two item types leads to loss of information. Procedures are discussed and empirical results are provided using a set of tests in the areas of reading, language, mathematics, and science in three grades.     

An instructional design case event: Exploring issues in professional practice

Cases have been recommended as an important instructional tool for developing professional knowledge across disciplines. In this paper, we begin by defining case methods, a potentially valuable instructional tool for encouraging authentic, active learning. We describe our approach to the design and use of instructional design (ID) cases, and go on to report on the design and use of a Web-based ID case in a team case competition involving six universities. Students and most officials were enthusiastic about the use of ID cases and about this event. Team collaboration and competition were noted as motivating factors for students. The findings are being used to inform ongoing research and development, which is also described.A previous version of this paper was presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT), Albuquerque, NM, February 1997.The authors may be contacted at the Department of Educational Leadership, Foundations, and Policy, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2495. Phone (804) 924-7471; fax (804) 924-0747; e-mail: Kinzie@Virginia.edu.     

The Evolution of Business Models and Marketing Strategies in the Music Industry

This article provides a strategic analysis using a services marketing framework of 3 business models in the music industry: the traditional music industry; renegade peer-to-peer music file trading; and new, legitimate online downloading services. Key recommendations are made on how new, legitimate services can succeed using convergent marketing strategies. Finally, a conclusion is provided addressing the future of the music industry and other media-related industries.     

Recipients, agents, or partners?: The contradictions of teacher participation in Mexican secondary education reform

The countries of Latin America have been no exception to global calls for educational transformation and teacher professionalization at the secondary level. One of the newest of these reforms is Mexico’s Reforma de la Educación Secundaria (RS) (Reform of Secondary Education), launched in 2006. This article examines portrayals by various actors of the nature and extent of the participation of both teachers and the teachers’ union in the different phases of the RS, beginning with the initial formulation of the reform through the implementation and the “follow-up.” Findings indicate that in spite of efforts to provide more transparency and opportunities for teacher participation, for the most part secondary teachers in Mexico neither felt like agents nor partners in the RS, nor did they function as such in the reform process. As in previous reform efforts, teachers mostly felt that they were recipients of plans formulated by government officials, and as a result many have evidenced neither complete compliance nor full commitment to the reform. The national teachers’ union, meanwhile, claims to represent teachers’ voices and thus a form of teacher participation, but this claim is denied in the findings. The discussion and conclusions emphasize the multiple significations of teacher “participation” and the need to overcome system-wide contradictions, while drawing on theory about the conditioned state, bureaucracy, and democratizing civil society to help situate and explain the findings.     

History of abuse and neglect in patients with schizophrenia who have a history of violence

Objective

To determine the prevalence of five forms of abuse/neglect during childhood and adolescence in a group of schizophrenic patients with a history of violence.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients hospitalized in a highly secured psychiatric unit were included. Abuse and neglect during patients’ growth were evaluated with the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). History of substance abuse (consumption of cannabis, and/or alcohol, and/or heroin, and/or cocaine during the year that preceded the hospitalization), incarceration, and death of a close parent were also collected.

Results

We found that 46.4% of patients experienced at least 1 form of abuse and/or neglect during childhood and 21.4% of them had experienced more than 2 forms of abuse and/or neglect. The 2 most frequent forms of neglect and abuse were physical abuse (39.3%) and emotional neglect (17.9%). History of substance abuse was found for cannabis (57.1%), alcohol (57.1%), and cocaine and/or heroin (35.7%). We found that 42.8% of patients had 1 close relative who had died during their growth and that 41.6% of these deaths were violent.

Conclusion

It appears important to systematically search for and assess a history of abuse and neglect during growth in schizophrenic patients with a history of violence, in order to offer specific treatments for this group of patients.