Thesis (M.M.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / Statement of the problem. The purpose of this study was (1) to determine the present practices of selected junior high school band programs in Massachusetts' cities between 5,000 and 25,000 population; (2) to identify corresponding practices advocated in the literature of music education; and (3) to evaluate findings by comparing with the recommendations of the music education profession. Sources of data. The sources of data used in this investigation include: (1) publications in music education, (2) unpublished theses and dissertations in music education, and (3) a questionnaire. Conclusions. The following conclusions were formulated from the findings of the inquiry: 1. Tests and consultations with homeroom teachers were helpful, but not necessary as a prerequisite in the selection of band members. 2. Demonstrations were a desirable means of stimulating student interest in music. 3. The three-month trial plan appeared to be the most popular rental plan offered to beginning pupils. 4. Parents were notified of the student's progress by special reports from the music department. Telephone conversations were a popular means of communication with parents. 5. The seventh grade level appeared to be best for the beginning of study on an instrument. 6. Students were usually allowed to select the instrument of their choice, although band directors made suggestions for balanced instrumentation. 7. Instruction books were not provided by the school. 8. Expensive and unusual instruments were provided by the school to selected youngsters, such as: oboes, alto and bass clarinets, tenor and baritone saxophones, bassoons, French horns, baritones, basses, and percussion equipment. 9. Uniforms were rarely found in the junior high schools. 10. Liost communi ties had a seven period day, with the average length of the period from forty-five to forty-eight minutes. 11. Most junior high school bands marched in parades and performed concerts in their own schools. Few school bands traveled to other communities. 12. The rotating schedule was seldom employed. 13. Private lessons after school hours was used often and highly recommended by the music supervisors. 14. Class lessons were seldom offered during the school day. 15. Dance bands most often rehearsed after school hours. / 2999-01-01

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The purpose of this study was to identify the educational stressors that are the predominant sources of teacher distress and burnout, discover and classify the common and persistent distressful situations in the educational environment, and illustrate a variety of coping strategies that can be practically implemented at the secondary school level. The analyses of data were accomplished through the statistical use of t-tests, one-way analysis of variance tests, and qualitative exposition. The sample consisted of 446 secondary school instructors, selected senior high school and junior high school respondents from five high schools and five junior high schools in the Tucson area. The examination of 54 educational stressors was conducted under the auspices of six research hypotheses which identified the variables on which senior high school teachers and junior high school teachers differed. The independent variables that were investigated were: sex (male and female teachers), teaching experience (0 to 4 years of completed teaching experience, 5 to 9 years of completed teaching experience, 10 to 16 years of completed teaching experience, and 17 to 38 years of completed teaching experience), age (21 go 30 years of age, 31 to 40 years of age, 41 to 50 years of age, and 51 to 67 years of age), marital status (married, single, widowed, divorced, and separated), and types of college degrees (bachelor's, bachelor's plus, master's, and master's plus or doctorate). An additional 63 educational stressors were named by the secondary school participants and listed in the study. For the purpose of this study the researcher developed the Teacher Stress Survey which was given to the 10 Tucson secondary school teaching faculties. The survey consisted of five parts: (1)15 demographic items, (2)54 educational stressors and their degrees of discomfort, (3)common and persistent distressful educational situations in the secondary school environment, (4)the coping strategies used to reduce or dispel the stress in the distressful educational situations and their levels of effectiveness, and (5)more appropriate or better coping strategies that might have been used. Over 70% of the secondary school instructors responded. The immediate crises' situations involving teaching materials and personnel seemed to be more distreeful to junior high teachers than high school teachers whose primary concerns were centered on the school's misuse of power and authority and the teacher's struggle with inadequate salary and unrealistic educational expectations. The 20 educational stressors identified by female teachers involved all areas of the educational spectrum--from paperwork to the future of education--while male teachers evinced concern with the lack of adequate salary and inconsistent educational methods and philosophies. The teachers with the least experience showed the most distress, particularly in the areas of school policy and populace. The teachers with the most experience were concerned about teacher representation, salary, and materials. The oldest teachers had the greatest distress in their lack of control over assignment, salary, and subject matter as well as their feelings of lack of self-esteem through professional stagnation. The marital status of the teachers did have a significant effect derived from their dissatisfaction with salary, the power of the school board and the superintendent, lack of teaching materials, lack of job security, the derogatory public view of education, and the paperwork overload. The teachers with the least amounts of educational preparation had the greatest distress in school policy formulation and ineffective parental support while the secondary school teachers with the advanced degrees were most distressed about the assignment of school duties.

This research was designed to determine if significant differences exist among the behavioral perceptions and values held by staff and user groups of all junior high schools in a selected independent school district. This study also evaluates the applicability of social profiles to describe perceived organizational behavioral characteristics. Two published, validated survey instruments were used to collect the data. The questionnaires were distributed to randomly selected teachers (staff group) and parents and Parent-Teacher Association officers (user group) from each of the five junior high schools. Of 206 sets of questionnaires distributed, 166 (80.5 percent were returned. Computer analyses of these raw data provided both individual perceptions and descriptions for each junior high school in addition to individual values for each school's staff and user group. The data results show that the social profiles of two of the five schools are perceived differently by both their staff and user groups; furthermore, there are significant differences between the values held by the staff and user groups for each of these schools. For the other three schools, there are minor differences of perception by staff and user groups of their schools' social profiles and also among the values held by the staff and user groups. The data analysis presented in this study led to three primary conclusions. These are that (1) the instruments used complement each other in an analysis of the overall description of an organization; (2) three schools, although perceived by their staff and user groups to have minor differences in behaviors and user-group values held, are similar in organizational characteristics, methods of operation, and overall perceptions; and (3) for two of the schools which are perceived to reflect significant differences in behaviors and values held by staff and user groups, the influence of these differences may require exceptionally proficient administration to produce effectiveness and efficient operations.

Prior to the development of interactive television, schools that were either geographically isolated or financially restricted were often unable to provide courses that may have been essential for students. Interactive television has helped such school districts provide appropriate courses for their students. Because student self-efficacy is a significant indicator of student success, the relationship between distance learning and students' self-efficacy requires research. The problem of the study was to examine the impact of site location in a distance learning environment on student self-efficacy in Spanish instruction. The participants in this study were junior high school students enrolled in distance-learning Spanish classes at two junior high schools in a north central Texas independent school district. All of the students were taught by the same instructor. The age range of the students was from 11 to 14 years of age, and all students were in either the seventh or the eighth grade. Students took a modified version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire at the end of each treatment. Using the counterbalanced design, each subject was matched to themselves. T-tests for nonindependent samples were used to compare the two treatments. The findings indicate that there is no significant difference in the level of student self-efficacy by site location. The findings in this study support the use of distance learning as a medium for Spanish instruction at the junior high school level. Because of the strong statistical relationship between self-efficacy and student performance, teachers and administrators can reasonably believe that site location will not hamper their students' success.

The purpose of this study is to determine the extent of pupil failure in the seventh and eighth grades of the Cleburne Junior High School, to determine to what extent certain mental characteristics contribute to pupil failure and success, and to submit some suggestions as to how pupil failure may be reduced to a minimum in the seventh and eighth grades of the Cleburne Junior High School, Cleburne, Texas.

The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to formulate criteria for evaluating the activities of a junior high school, and (2) to determine the extent to which the program of the White Settlement Junior High School, Tarrant County, Texas, meets these criteria. In so doing, attention is given to many phases of the school and its program.

This thesis is an analysis of certain factors associated with school progress of students of the graduating class of the Hillsboro Junior High School for 1940. The study is limited to considering the effect of age, attendance, environment, and economic status on progress during four years that these students attended junior high school.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education