EARLY SCHOOL DIFFICULTIES - EARLY WARNING FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY?

• NCJ Number: 69127
• Author(s): K WOODEN; S ANDERSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 0 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; National District Atorneys Assoc
• Sale Source: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. THIS PROGRAM IS SIDE THREE OF THE CASSETTE. FOR SIDE FOUR SEE NCJ-69128 AND NCJ-72652. RUNNING TIME IS 29 MINUTES.

Annotation

THIS CASSETTE TAPE CONTAINS PRESENTATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROBLEMS OF INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ) TESTING, READING PROFICIENCY'S LINK TO MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR, AND DELINQUENCY'S ROOTS IN SCHOOL DIFFICULTIES.

Abstract

THE TWO PRESENTATIONS WERE RECORDED AT THE FIFTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE AND WERE EDITED FOR OPTIMAL LISTENING. THE CONFERENCE WAS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES AND THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS, EDUCATORS, RESEARCHERS, AND OTHERS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR CHILDREN'S JUSTICE TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE TESTING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY. HE TAKES ISSUE WITH THE WIDESPREAD AND LARGELY UNCRITICAL USE OF IQ TESTING. TESTING FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES HAS AN INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL TO HELP AND ALSO AN INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL TO DESTROY. VESTED INTERESTS HAVE PERVERTED THE TESTING MOVEMENT. RATHER THAN INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF TESTING, EDUCATORS SHOULD USE CREATIVE ARTS TO HELP MOTIVATE CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES. THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BUREAU OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE STATED THAT FAILURE IN SCHOOLWORK AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS ARE OFTEN JUDGED TO BE A COMMON SOURCE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS AND ALIENATION MOTIVATING DELINQUENT CONDUCT. SCHOOL IS OFTEN THE FIRST SETTING IN WHICH STUDENTS COME TO THINK OF THEMSELVES AS TROUBLESOME. FORMAL OR INFORMAL LABELING AND GROUPING WITH OTHERS SIMILARLY REGARDED MAY INTENSITY AN INDIVIDUAL'S TENDENCY TOWARD DEVIANCE. SCHOOL MAY BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE SETTING IN WHICH TO TRY TO PREVENT DELINQUENCY. SCHOOLS MUST PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOSTERING COPING SKILLS. SCHOOLS' RESPONSES TO MISCONDUCT AND THEIR SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION DECISIONS ARE CRUCIAL. DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS' SENSES OF INJUSTICE CENTER MORE ON HOW THEY WERE HANDLED BY SCHOOLS THAN ON HOW THEY WERE HANDLED BY THE POLICE. RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ALL INSTITUTIONS WHICH DEAL WITH YOUTH NEED FURTHER EXAMINATION. NEW MODES OF ORGANIZATION WITHIN SCHOOL SYSTEMS ALSO ARE NEEDED. FOR RELATED CASSETTES, SEE NCJ 69125-26, 69128-30, AND 72652.