Abstract
Educators have long charged that the pressures of big-time college sports programs make a mockery of the scholar-athlete ideal. University presidents believe their real job is to preserve and create environments where new knowledge can be discovered, knowledge that makes life richer and more rewarding. But often, the public at large sees the university differently. The paper shows that, for these people, the most visible and vital role played by institutions is as a sponsor of athletic teams. In reality, sports are overemphasized on college campuses. The paper argues that all people would greatly benefit if concentration shifted from athletics to academics in the college atmosphere.

From the Paper
"The separation between the cultures of athletics and academics on college campuses is increasing, with different standards for admission and academic performance applied to athletes and non-athletes at all program levels. This growing problem increasingly jeopardizes the essential mission of our universities. It threatens to undermine the integrity of a system of higher education that has been widely acknowledged to be the best in the world. Intercollegiate athletics and academics are at a crucial juncture. The value system of commercialization is distorting the role and purpose of intercollegiate athletics and negatively affecting universities. A reform movement must be established stressing "Academics First (Shulman and Bowen 2).""

Tags:amateur, administrator, coach, football

Abstract
The paper analyzes four newspaper articles that mention English or grammar. The paper summarizes each article into one paragraph and the writer provides personal comments on the articles. The writer describes the articles as "on the border of humorous with a blend of seriousness." The writer further discusses how people often make mistakes in their writing and fail to proofread their work; these grammar mistakes can sound humorous.

From the Paper
"This article came from the newspaper, The Times, with the article, "Traditional Grammar Teaching Is Waste of Time, Say Academics." Notice the title has a mistake in it. It should be "says." The article states that English grammar does not give students writing skills. A study was completed by an English review group in York. The article states that no evidence in over 100 years has connected grammar with better writing skills. While sentence combining, has been beneficial in helping students gain improvements in their writing."

Tags:english, grammar, newspaper

Abstract
This paper details the results of various research studies conducted on African-American students in schools around America. One particular study, conducted on 43 students, consisted of an open-ended questionnaire delving into the question of how to enhance the academic success of African-American youth. The study asked questions pertaining to family and social issues as well as what students needed in order to better succeed in school. This paper discusses the most important single need of all the students tested, which was that teachers need to ask questions specifically designed to find out if students understand the material and if not, provide further explanations. The writer examines published material attesting to the fact that African-American students need alternative strategies to achieve academic success, which are described in this paper. This paper also delves into the benefits of cooperative learning, which is a strategy that teams students in small groups with different levels of ability, using a diverse series of learning activities to enhance understanding.

Table of Contents:
Literature Review
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper
"Both the elementary students (51%) and the high school students (26%) indicated that if parents helped students learn to study, their grades would improve. But the most important single thing both elementary and high school students reported, in terms of getting stronger academic footings in preparation for college, was that teachers need to "ask questions" specifically designed to find out if students understand the material, and if not, "provide further explanations."
On the subject of counsellors, an article in High School Journal suggests that African American students do indeed need different strategies to achieve academic success. Since a portion of African American adolescents live in single-parent home environments and below the poverty level, and as a result of that environment are "likely to question the relationship between educational achievement and economic progress," school counselors must take on strategies beyond their job descriptions."

Tags:education, strategy, applied, practice, minority, research, results

Abstract
This paper presents a hypothetical research project proposal for the fictional Child Watch organization. The paper examines the potential shortcomings of the project, the academic sources from which emerged the guiding hypothesis, and the methodology to be used. Essentially, the paper argues that there is an appreciable decline in the academic performance of immigrants, the more assimilated they become.

From the Paper
"This is a proposed survey for Child Watch in which our research group attempts to measure the impact of assimilation upon non-Caucasian students in Philadelphia's public schools. There are certain broad components to any project of this kind that cannot be overlooked. To begin with, we must address the "Operationalization" of the concepts to be explored. In other words, this paper will take the broad concept - "the paradox of immigrant adaptation" - and hypothesize it thusly: "second and third-generation immigrant children struggle far more with school than their first-generation predecessors because of the adoption of attitudes that are incongruent with academic achievement. In exploring this hypothesis, we will turn to two previous peer-reviewed articles that seem to support such a conclusion. From there, we will examine the practical implementation of such a project."

Tags:immigrants, school, attitude

Abstract
In the 1980s and 1990s, student violence became a common occurrence in many public schools. Even prior to the carnage at Columbine High School in Colorado, many schools were experiencing violent confrontations between various gang members, and solutions were being sought, with great attention and focus given to conformity in apparel. As a result, many schools throughout the United States have instituted policies where a standard uniform is required apparel for all students, most notably in elementary and middle schools. Among the justifications for these policies are school safety, school discipline, and last and apparently least, school academic success. Results as to academic successes resulting from uniform policies is mixed and fluid. This paper focuses on guidelines for uniform policies, schools that have had success, empirical reports that contradict other empirical reports, and schools opting out.

From the Paper
"The debate as to whether or not children who wear school uniforms raise their achievement level is not new, has not been resolved one way or another and it is an ongoing dynamic. It appears from the literature that the main reason many school districts initially implemented the school uniform requirements was in the name of "school safety". Those safety reasons sprang from the violence which plagued many schools in the 1980s and 1990s, a time during which youth gangs began to emerge."

Tags:education, conduct

Abstract
The paper discusses the article, "The Role of Gender in Academic Achievement" by Lea Hubbard, which deals with issues such as the study of low-income African-American public high school students.
The paper states that the findings of this qualitative study suggest that gender and variables other than ethnicity and class distinctions are a prime determining factor in the performance assessments and achievement levels of African-American public high school students.

From the Paper
"The above assertions are dependent on the qualitative research method using a sample of 30 highly successful, low-income, African American public high school students. It should be noted at the outset that the study is limited in terms the extent and range of its data sample. This not only refers to the emphasis on the low income selection and the category of 'successful student," but also to the important fact that the sample group is the participant in the AVID program. While this does not necessarily invalidate the findings of the study, it should be borne in mind as it indicates the parameters of the study and affects any generalized assumptions that can be derived from the research. This is essentially an ethnographic based qualitative study, and, as will be become evident in this review, this form of research method has obvious limitations in terms of validity and overall worth as a research methodology."

Tags:gender-based, variation, influential, notions

Abstract
This paper discusses a psychological experiment that relates to the self esteem of the individual in a college setting. According to Abraham Maslow, each individual needed self esteem as part of his or her basic needs in the social order (Boeree, 2006, sec. 2). The paper further discusses how high self esteem allows the individual to confront obstacles in life, as well as attempt to progress through existence with a positive outlook.

Tags:psychology, selfesteem, academics

Abstract
This paper analyzes five efforts to reform collegiate sport programs spanning the 20th century. The paper maintains that few such efforts have been successful due to the commercialized and professional nature of collegiate athletics in U.S. culture. The paper claims that this view of sports at the university-level is detrimental to the pursuit of academic purpose.

From the Paper
"The history of collegiate sports reform and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its influence on academics and athletic reform can be traced to five major sports reform movements during..."

Tags:White House Conference, NCAA, ACE President's Report Handford Report, ethics, academic integrity, sports, athletes

Abstract
This is a research paper that discusses the effect mentoring can have on youth and their academic achievement and self-worth. The research sets out to examine the main effects of mentoring on youth for three measured variables (academic achievement, self-worth and racial perception) as well as the interactions that occur when mentoring pairings (same race vs. different race) are contrasted. The authors are particularly interested in what interactions exist between mixed-race pairings vs. same-race pairings, and the interaction between the two mixed-race pairs.

Outline:
Abstract
Method
Data and Data analysis

From the Paper
''It has long been theorized that adverse situational variables for youth can be overcome through positive interactions experienced with a mentor. However, studies of the actual effects of mentors on at-risk youth have produced mixed results. Mentoring programs are widely believed to positively affect academic achievement, peer and family relationships, self-worth, and to help develop acceptable social skills. Based on this assumption, many believe that mentoring programs should be instituted in schools nationwide. While many studies have demonstrated positive results from mentoring programs such as, Big Brother/Big Sister, others have found no significant effects of mentor interventions. This discrepancy is not surprising because most previous studies have found the quality and type of mentoring are key factors in terms of effect on the youth (Grossman and Tierney 1998, Royse1998, Slicker and Palmer 1993). Furthermore, not much research exists on how race of the child and mentor plays a part in the impact on these variables, as well as, any impact on inter-racial perceptions and relations.
''Much fanfare exudes from the positive correlations between mentoring and the many categories of improvement that developmentally and academically at-risk youth show after mentor intervention. However, specific causality for these improvements has not been determined. It is assumed that the mentor plays some important role, but it has never been truly shown to be responsible for the positive results obtained.''

Tags:social behavior, intervention achievement

Abstract
This paper discusses how to improve academics, specifically learning how to juggle classes, social life and other roles that can be difficult as a college student. The paper recommends ways to obtain academic goals, including looking attributional patterns and changing these as needed, time management, learning to take notes, obtaining better study tips, learning ways to relieve stress, and setting academic goals that can be tested.

From the Paper
"Freshman college students find the transition of becoming a college student quite different than high school. Many college students are challenged by time management because they have put on different masks such as being a parent, a worker, and a student. Academic stress often leads to lower grades and depression. "Academic stress pervades the life of students, and tends to impact their mental and physical health, and their ability to perform schoolwork effectively" (Akgun & Ciarrochi, 2003, p. 287). Learning how to juggle classes, social life, and other roles can be difficult as a college student. The academic goal is to become a better student and obtain higher academic grades. Obtaining this academic goal will include looking at attributional patterns and changing these as needed, time management, learning to take notes, obtaining better study tips, learning ways to relieve stress, and setting academic goals that can be tested."

Tags:academics, study, improvement