IDEALS

RESEARCH FINDING:

Belief  in  the value of hard work,  the importance of  personal 
responsibility, and the importance of education itself contri-
butes to greater success in school.

COMMENT:

The  ideals  that children hold have important  implications  for 
their  school experiences.   Children who believe in the value of 
hard work and responsibility and who attach importance to  educa-
tion  are  likely to have higher academic achievement  and  fewer 
disciplinary  problems  than those who do not have these  ideals.  
They are also less likely to drop out of school.   Such  children 
are  more  likely  to use their out-of-school time in  ways  that 
reinforce learning.  
For  example,  high  school students who believe  in  hard  work, 
responsibility, and the value of education spend about three more 
hours  a  week  on homework than do other students.   This  is  a 
significant  difference  since the average  student  spends  only 
about five hours a week doing homework.


Parents  can  improve  their children's chances  for  success  by 
emphasizing the importance of education,  hard work and responsi-
bility,  and  by  encouraging their children's  friendships  with 
peers who have similar values.   The ideals that students,  their 
parents,  and  their peers hold are more important than a student's 
socioeconomic  and ethnic background in predicting academic  suc-
cess.                                      


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Ginsburg,  A.,  and Hanson,  S.  (l985).   Values and Educational 
Success Among Disadvantaged Students.   Final Report to the  U.S. 
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Hanson, S., and Ginsburg, A. (l985).  Gaining Ground:  Values and 
High  School  Success.   Final Report to the U.S.  Department  of 
Education, Washington, D.C.

Walberg,  H.  (l984).   "Improving the Productivity of  America's 
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