Education Reform and School Climate I. Early Interventions

Head Start A federally funded program in the 1960’s targeted toward at-risk preschoolers. Designed to prevent generic, negative outcomes in adolescents and adulthood. Short term: Better vocabulary, math and writing skills, and social skills than non-program disadvantaged kids. Long-term: More likely to complete high school and college. Less likely to be arrested or charged with a crime (Ludwig & Phillips, 2007). Cost effectiveness studies: Society can save 7.16 dollars of future costs for every dollar spent on prevention.

The High/Scope Perry Preschool Project Often considered a variant of Head Start. Components Emphasis on active learning. Small class size. Interface with children’s parents. Like Head Start, curriculum extends beyond educational concerns.

The High/Scope Perry Preschool Project (cont) Research Longitudinal study of 123, low-income, AA children three to four years-old. Initial data collection between 1962 and Random assignment to program or control group.

Education Reform and School Climate II. School Violence

School Violence: Rates

School Violence: Causes ( Eisenbraun, 2007 ) Personal: high testosterone, low serotonin, gender, drug use, threats of violence, & bullying. Family: Abuse or neglect, inconsistently observed limits, rigidity or over-control. School: Poor school climate or fit, school size, policy responses to violence. Social: poverty, discrimination, gun availability, media violence.

Violence in the media What portion of young kids view intensely violent media images? Dartmouth study in 2002.

Violence in the media (cont) Is there a relation between heavy viewing and violence? Merits of different designs: Experimental: Bandura and the Bobo dolls in the 1960s. Boyatis et al., 1995.

Violence in the media (cont) Longitudinal: Eron, et al. (1972). Huesmann et al. (2003) replication. Meta-analyses. Hearold (1986).

Violence in the Media— Conclusions The magnitude of the effect of media on violent behavior depends on: Audience characteristics (Grimes, et al. 2004). Media attributes Images that are more realistic, legitimized, and lack of emphasis on the pain and suffering the victim are seen stronger predictors of violent behavior.

School Violence Prevention. Warning Signs (APA). Positive Action (PA). Flay & Alfred (2003).

Education Reform and School Climate III. Dropping Out

Dropping Out See Handouts

Education Reform and School Climate IV. Prejudice in the Schools

The Contact Hypothesis (Cook, 1985). Contact reduces negative attitudes under certain conditions. Contact with diverse groups is associated with more favorable attitudes towards these groups (e.g., Molina and Wittig, 2006).

The Jigsaw Method Is a cooperative learning technique developed in the 1970’s by Elliot Aaronson to reduce prejudice in the schools. Outcomes: