This qualitative study identified school environment practices in designated school districts in a selected region in the state of Texas based on an accreditation visit from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in the school year 1988-1989 and identified specific elements of positive school environment that were valued by the TEA.

The National Guard in America began in the Revolutionary War. The Texas units resulted from the earlier concept and emerged in 1835 to resist Mexican oppression. Following achievement of statehood, Texas militiamen served in the Mexican War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. As the twentieth century began, Texans had a long history of service in reserve military organizations in spite of a prevailing attitude of contempt for citizen soldiers held by influential regular army officials.