January/February 1999
Retention vs. Social Promotion: Schools Search for Alternatives
By Karen Kelly
In the latest effort to address the needs of failing students, President Clinton and other policymakers have called for an end to social promotion-the practice of promoting students to the next grade regardless of their academic progress-and urged instead that schools retain, or hold back, students who perform at low levels. Most research suggests that retention does more harm than good, but it is still a preferred remedy in many schools. What are the advantages and drawbacks of retention? Of social promotion? And is there some path between the two that will serve kids' interests the best?
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What Makes a Good School Violence Prevention Program?
Researchers Begin to Evaluate Established Programs
by Laurel Shaper Walters
In the wake of last year's string of school shootings, administrators everywhere are hearing from concerned parents about school violence. In response, administrators are trying every possible approach to inoculate their own schools against violence, including student mediators, anger management programs, and conflict resolution. Acknowledging that the field is relatively young and that researchers have limited knowledge of what works best and why, this article discusses what to look for when evaluating violence prevention programs.
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School Design Can Say a Lot About Teaching and Learning
by Millicent Lawton
Can teaching and learning be improved by the design of a school building? While many factors contribute to student achievement, advocates argue that educational facilities need to be an essential part of improving education, especially as educators move toward such popular strategies as cooperative learning, group projects, or team teaching. This article examines the factors that go into creating better-designed schools, and provides recommendations for future planning.
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Design Fosters Learning at Zoo School
by Millicent Lawton
If any school can claim to exemplify cutting-edge thinking about knitting school design together with effective teaching and learning, it's the Zoo School in Apple Valley, Minnesota. This article profiles the Zoo School, formally the School of Environmental Studies, an alternative high school that is located next door to the Minnesota Zoo.
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