Implementation and Administration of Radical Education in Texas: Politics or Reform in Education from 1870-1873 (open access)

Implementation and Administration of Radical Education in Texas: Politics or Reform in Education from 1870-1873

This study examines the efforts of Radicals (Republicans) to establish a state-wide public school system in Texas between 1870 and 1873. Primary sources cover the chronological fringes of the period being examined. This study follows a chronological narrative with the four chapters examining first, educational trends in the southern states and Texas prior to Reconstruction, followed by examination of the Radical system in Texas, and, finally, its destruction by Conservative Texans. The final chapter focuses on immediate and long range results of Radical education. In examining the Radical educational program, an attempt has been made to dispel ideas popularly held by present-day Texans who believe that the Radical school program was simply another "carpetbagger" scheme for raiding the state treasury and building Radical patronage. This paper contends that the Radicals established as good a public school system as could be created at the time, and that it was administered in an honest and efficient manner. The system was destroyed by politicians and a grass roots revolt of taxpayers who had no faith in its methods, goals, or administrators.
Date: August 1976
Creator: McClellan, Michael E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of the Contributions of Mary Lizzie McCord to Drama Education at Southern Methodist University (open access)

A Study of the Contributions of Mary Lizzie McCord to Drama Education at Southern Methodist University

Although in 1915 there was no drama education in Methodist colleges and universities in Texas, today all Methodist schools of higher education in Texas have at least course offerings in drama. Southern Methodist University was one of the first Methodist schools to offer such courses which began with the hiring of Mary McCord to teach public speaking in September, 1915. The problem of this study is to explain the contributions of Mary McCord to the development of drama education at Southern Methodist University. It is recommended that the development of the department after Miss McCord retired be examined, that the students taught by Miss McCord who chose theatre as their life's work be interviewed about the effect of her training on their careers, and that a thorough study of the McCord Theatre Collection be undertaken.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Spalding, Sharon Brown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Electromyographic Analysis of the Pectoralis Major During Six Selected Antigravity Calisthenics (open access)

Electromyographic Analysis of the Pectoralis Major During Six Selected Antigravity Calisthenics

The problem of this study was the analysis of the pectoralis major during six antigravity exercises using electromyographc techniques. Thirty male subjects were used for the investigation from physical education classes at North Texas State University during the spring of 1976.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Fischer, Russell D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of Southern Insurgency Within the Texas Congressional Delegation, 1933-1938 (open access)

A Study of Southern Insurgency Within the Texas Congressional Delegation, 1933-1938

This study focuses upon the Texas congressional delegation from 1933 to 1938 in an attempt to determine the extent of southern insurgency within that group. Following an examination of the Redeemer-insurgent dichotomy in southern politics since Reconstruction, the thesis analyzes roll-call votes on New Deal legislation concerning agricultural, financial, relief, and labor reform issues to demonstrate that a spirit of southern insurgency existed in Texas politics in the 1930's. The study concludes that Morris Sheppard, Sam Rayburn, Maury Maverick, W. D. McFarlane, R. Ewing Thomason, and Lyndon B. Johnson were politicians in the tradition of southern insurgents. The influence of these men, especially Sheppard, Rayburn, and Maverick, on the passage of legislation reflecting insurgent demands is demonstrated to be significant.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Haney, Jan P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Black Opposition to Participation in American Military Engagements from the American Revolution to Vietnam (open access)

Black Opposition to Participation in American Military Engagements from the American Revolution to Vietnam

This thesis includes two background chapters based largely on secondary works; Chapters I and II trace the historiography of black participation in American military engagements from the American Revolution through the Korean conflict. Chapter III, based largely on primary sources, places emphasis on black resistance and attitudes toward the Vietnam crisis. Evidence indicates that the Vietnam era of black protest was not unique but was an evolutionary process that had its roots in other periods in American history. Some blacks questioned their involvement in each American military conflict from the American Revolution to Vietnam.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Alexander, Vern L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Dietary Treatment of Hyperactive Children (open access)

Dietary Treatment of Hyperactive Children

This study investigated whether a salicylate-restricted diet (eliminating foods containing artificial additives and natural salicylates) could effectively reduce hyperactivity in children more so than a diet not restricting salicylates (ostensibly restricting foods containing refined sugar). Ten hyperactive children, nine boys and one girl, were matched on their pre-treatment activity rates and assigned to either a salicylate-restricted diet (Group I) or a diet not restricting salicylates (Group II). After approximately nine weeks, post-treatment activity rates were obtained, and a significant difference in favor of the salicylate-restricted diet group was found with this diet group exhibiting a significantly lower mean post-treatment activity rate in comparison to the group placed on a diet not restricting salicylates (p<.05). Implications for diagnosis and treatment of hyperactivity in children were discussed.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Rogers, Gary S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Assessing and Influencing the Attitude and Knowledge of Selected Post-Secondary Students Concerning Body Language (open access)

Assessing and Influencing the Attitude and Knowledge of Selected Post-Secondary Students Concerning Body Language

This investigation, which was conducted on the post-secondary level and included vocational and academic students, was undertaken to develop an instrument to assess the attitude and knowledge of students concerning body language and to develop a module of instruction in body language to favorably influence their attitude and knowledge concerning body language. Hypotheses were formulated related to the differences in mean effective and cognitive scores of the experimental group who were taught body language and the control group. Additional hypotheses were formulated related to mean differences in the scores of students differing in age, sex, business experience, and prior exposure to body language. The findings of this study included first, the testing of the instrument; second, the testing of the validity of the research design and third, the testing of the hypotheses. The following conclusions are based on the findings of the study: the instrument seems to be acceptable for assessing the attitude and knowledge of post—secondary students concerning body language, the module of instruction in body language seems to be acceptable as a basis for influencing the attitude and knowledge of post—secondary students concerning body language, the mid-management and speech students were comparable in attitude and knowledge concerning body …
Date: August 1976
Creator: Lester, E. W. Bud
System: The UNT Digital Library
A comparison of the effectiveness of microtraining, positive verbal reinforcement via immediate feedback, and traditional parent skill groups in teaching specific parent skills and improving parent attitudes (open access)

A comparison of the effectiveness of microtraining, positive verbal reinforcement via immediate feedback, and traditional parent skill groups in teaching specific parent skills and improving parent attitudes

This investigation concerned teaching specific parent skills and improving parent attitudes. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of three techniques and combinations of techniques in teaching specific parent skills and improving parent attitudes. The techniques considered were microtraining, verbal reinforcement via immediate feedback, and traditional parent training.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Fain, Charlotte N.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Time-Compressed Speech Discrimination and Its Relationship to Reading-Readiness Skills (open access)

Time-Compressed Speech Discrimination and Its Relationship to Reading-Readiness Skills

Time-compressed speech discrimination of children grouped as high and low risk on a reading-readiness test was examined. Children were grouped according to performance on a measure of reading-readiness skills. All passed a hearing screening at fifteen decibels for octave frequencies 250-4000 Hz. The Word Intelligibility by Picture Identification (WIPI) comprised the time-compressed speech task, in a sound field at seventy decibels Sound Pressure Level and zero degrees azimuth. The protocol for administration of the time-compressed speech task was sixty per cent time compression, then zero per cent time compression. Significant effects appeared for time compression ratio and test group. Average difference was twelve per cent and approximately eight per cent at zero.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Danko, Mary Carole
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comparison of Drawings Between a Group of Dyslexic Adolescents and a Group of Non-Dyslexic Adolescents (open access)

A Comparison of Drawings Between a Group of Dyslexic Adolescents and a Group of Non-Dyslexic Adolescents

The purpose of this paper is to compare a group of adolescents with the learning disorder of dyslexia and a group of adolescents without dyslexia in regard to their ability to make realistic drawings. Subjects selected for the study were from a suburban junior high school in which a random sample was taken of both dyslexic and non-dyslexic students. Each was given three standardized drawing tasks, including a still-life drawing, a contour drawing, and a perspective drawing. The drawings were judged by five evaluators on a continuum of realistic to non-realistic. The ratings were then analyzed by the application of the Mann-Whitney U-Test, which indicated that there are no significant differences in the abilities of the two groups to render drawings realistically.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Tillman, Karen A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Anxiety Relief, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, and Expectancy Relaxation in the Treatment of Speech Phobia (open access)

Anxiety Relief, Progressive Muscle Relaxation, and Expectancy Relaxation in the Treatment of Speech Phobia

Relaxation procedures and anxiety relief were reviewed. Effects of cognitive and expectancy variables in reduction of avoidance behavior were also extensively reviewed. Various theoretical models for desensitization were presented. Use of symbolic control in classical conditioning and use of self-control methods in anxiety reduction were discussed. Special emphasis was given to self-desensitization and cue controlled relaxation. One goal of the experiment was to determine whether a musical stimulus associated with counter anxiety procedures could reduce or prevent subjects' phobic responses in the presence of the phobic situation. Another goal was to determine the relative efficacy of two counter anxiety procedures (anxiety relief and progressive muscle relaxation) in lowering muscle tension and in reducing or preventing speech anxiety. Several implications were drawn from the study. Relaxation alone may alleviate anxiety and phobic behavior without being paired with phobic stimuli. Cognitive variables such as expectancy and feedback of progress make a substantial contribution to treatment of situational anxiety. Progressive muscle relaxation may not be the technique of choice for producing low levels of muscle tension. Recommendations for future research were specified, including additional measures and control procedures.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Lynd, Robert Sterling
System: The UNT Digital Library
Noise in School Power Laboratories: Its Effects and Control (open access)

Noise in School Power Laboratories: Its Effects and Control

This study was made to find the effects of noise on the human body, to measure sound levels that exist in school power laboratories, and to design and evaluate the effectiveness of two noise control devices. An accurately calibrated testing device was used to measure sound levels in an attempt to determine if excessive noise exists in school power laboratories and to find the extent to which such noise can be reduced by shielding or enclosing the engine test area. It was found that noise has undesirable physical and psychological effects on the human organism. Sixty-two and one-half per cent of the engines tested registered sound levels above 90 dBA; even so, simple, inexpensive noise control devices do control the noise levels generated in the school power laboratories.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Schwab, David L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Symbolic Language Transfer in the Autistic Child (open access)

Symbolic Language Transfer in the Autistic Child

The problem of this study is to see if there is more symbolic language transfer by autistic children in an untrained matching situation if there has been previous training on similar matching situations. The purposes of the study are twofold. The first is to see if subjects will make a motor sign response untrained to an object if the word for the object has been trained to the motor sign response and to see if they will make a motor sign response untrained to a word for an object if they have been trained to make the response to the object named. The second is to see, if transfer occurs, whether the order presentations of object and word are a factor.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Busbee, Mary Cheryl
System: The UNT Digital Library
Relationship of Certain Fungi to Azotobacter in Nitrogen-Free Media (open access)

Relationship of Certain Fungi to Azotobacter in Nitrogen-Free Media

Azotobacter and various fungi were grown together in nitrogen-free media. Maximal fungal growth in the medium used was possible only at the expense of Azotobacter cells and growth was always accompanied by acid production. When the medium reached a pH of 2, the bacterial cells were aggregated on fungal hyphae and the culture fluid appeared to be free of Azotobacter. Aspergillus niger grew well at the expense of viable bacteria and other fungi grew well on heat-killed cells of A. vinelandii. Members of the genus Hormodendrum, although not causing significant decrease in pH, were also able to clear turbid cultures of Azotobacter. However, clearing, which involved the attachment of bacteria to fungal hyphae, was dependent on acid production by the fungi. Bacterial aggregation was followed by hyphal attachment, bacterial inactivation, and finally, bacterial cell lysis.
Date: August 1976
Creator: Ray, Manfred G.
System: The UNT Digital Library