The Young Adult Learner: Fifteen-To Eighteen-Year-Old Students in The
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 373 884 PS 022 560 AUTHOR Anisef, Paul; And Others TITLE The Young Adult Learner: Fifteen- to Eighteen-Year-Old Students in the Ontario English-Language School System. Volumes One [and] Two INSTITUTION Policy Research Center on Children, Youth and Families (Ontario). SPONS AGENCY Ontario Ministry of Education and Training, Toronto. REPORT NO ISBN-0-7778-0752-1 PUB DATE 93 NOTE 332p. AVAILABLE FROMMGS Publication Services, 880 Bay Street, 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M7A 1N8, Canada (ISBN-0-7778-0752-1, 2 volume set; ISBN-0-7778-0753-X, volume 1; ISBN-0-7778-0754-8, volume 2). PUB TYPE Reports Research/Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC14 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Adolescents; At Risk Persons; *Cognitive Style; Databases; Demography; Disabilities; Educational Policy; Foreign Countries; Secondary Education; *Secondary School Students; *Social Background; Socioeconomic Status; *Student Characteristics IDENTIFIERS Ontario ABSTRACT This 2-volume report assesses the context of social, demographic, economic, and technological changes in the light of educational data on 15- to 18-year-old students. The report suggests the need for a more responsive and flexible approach to classroom instruction, to the school as a community institution, and to the diversity of the learning needs of Canada's changing population. The study constructed profiles of the 15-to-18-year-old student, especially attending to gender, ethno-cultural origin, and socio-economic variables, and particularly to minorities, special needs, and at-risk students. The resulting report isintended to assist in designing policies and programs responsive to the needs of secondary school children. In the first volume, section 1summarizes recent social, technological, demographic, and structural transformations in Ontario. Section 2 reviews r-esearch literature on exceptional students and youth at risk, within the framework of learning styles theory and of Bloom's conceptual framework of prevention, intervention, and transition. Section 3 consists of qualitative research on exceptional students and youth at risk, based on interviews with educators, parents, andstudents. Section 4 explores learning as a cultural and diverse process in relation to the themes that emerged from the research, and these are thenapplied to educational programming and policy development.Findings are summarized, and areas for further research are identified. In the second volume, part1 presents socio-demographic profiles of youth based on macro databases, and part 2 presents analyses ofmicro or regional databases. A bibliography is included in the first volume. Thirty-one tables and 19 figures are appended to volume 2.(TM) A RESEARCH STUDY COAPAISSIONED BY DE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING The Young Adult Learner: Fifteen- to Eighteen-Year-Old co c) .2 Students in the Ontario C) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION .English-Language Office of Educat.onal Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization School System originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Volume One remon.w. Principal Investigators: Paul Anisef Laura C. Johnson With: Gary Bunch Mary Bunch Sandra Foster Tony Haddad Carol Hein Clifford Jansen Sharon Johnston Alan Jones Larry Lam Joha Lewko Kevin McCormick Suzanne Peters "ERMISSIC \I TO REPRODUCE THIS Kate lilleczek MATERIAL iAS BEEN GRANTED BY C. tv1oisse_ TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." Ministry This research project was funded under contract of Education by the Ministry of Education and Training, Ontario. and Training It reflects the views of the authors and not necessarily Ontario those of the ministry. 2 ES1 COPY AVM= A RESEARCH STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING The Young Adult Learner: Fifteen- to Eighteen-Year- Old Students in the Ontario English-Language School System Volume One Principal Investigators: Paul. Anisef Laura C. Johnson Wfth: Gary Bunch Mary Bunch .Sandra Foster Tony Haddad Carol Hein Clifford Jansen Sharon Johnston Alan Jones Larry Lam John Lewko Kevin McCormick Suzanne Peters Kate Ti liana* This research project was funded under contract by the Ministry of Education and Training, Ontario. It reflects the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Ministry. @ QUEEN'S PRINTER FOR ONTARIO. 1993 Order Information: MGS Publications Services 880 Bay Street, 5th Floor Toronto, Ontario M7A 1N8 (416) 326-5300 (Toll Free) 1-800-668 -9938 Order must be accompanied by a cheque or money order payable to the Treasurer of Ontario Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Anisef, Paul, 1942 - The young adult learner Complete in 2 v. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-7TM-0752-1 (2 v. set) ; ISBN 0-7778-0753-X (v.1) ; ISBN 0-7778-0754-8 (v. 2) 1. High school studentsOntarioSocial conditions. 2.YouthOntario.I. Johnson, Laura Clitnenko. 1943-.II. Bunch, Gary Owen, 1938-.III. Ontario. Ministry of Education. IV. Tit;.:.. LC208.4.A54 1993 371.8'235'09713 C93-092519-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables iv Project Team Preface vi Executive Summary vii I - Introductory Framework 1 Development and Learning of the 15 to 18 Year Old Learner 7 Learning Styles 16 H - Literature Review 33 Dropouts 33 Native Youth 48 Immigrant Students 55 Employed Students 60 Gifted Students 72 Students with Developmental Disabilities 85 Students with Physical Disabilities 91. III - Qualitative Component 99 Exceptional Students 99 Youth at Risk 105 Conclusion 110 IV - A Vision of Reform and Educational Policy Implications 111 Bibliography 121 List of Tables Table 1.1 Eriksonian Stages and Associated Bipolar Crises 10 Table 1.2 Kohlberg's Levels of Moral Development 13 iv 6 _ Project Team Executive Director: Suzanne Peters, Ph.D. The Policy Research Centre on Children, Youth and Families. Co-directors: Paul Anisef, Ph.D. Department of Sociology, York University, and PAE Consultants, Inc. Laura C. Johnson, Ph.D. The Policy Research Centreon Children, Youth and Families. Project Coordinator: Mary Bunch, B.A. The Policy Research Ce Litreon Children, Youth and Families. Consultants: Clifford Jansen, Ph.D. Department of Sociology, York University Gary Bunch, Ph.D. Department of Education, York University Carol Hein, M.A. Centre for Research in Human Development, Laurentian University John Lewko, Ph.D. Centre for Research in Human Development, Laurentian University Research Associates: Tony Haddad, M.A. Department of Sociology, York University Kevin McCormick, M.A. Department of Sociology, York University Researchers: Etta Baichman-Anisef Sandra Foster Kate Tilleczek Sharon Johnston Alan Jones Larry Lam Project Administrator: Lee Marks, The Policy Research Centreon Children, Youth and Families. Computer Layout: George Nassas & Michael Gray, The Policy Research Centreon Children, Youth and Families. 7 Preface The Policy Research Centre on Children, Youth and Families has prepared thisreport on contract to the Ontario Ministry of Education. The Centre's mandate is threefold: to develop a critical perspective on underlying policy issues; to stimulate, support and produce innovative research; and to foster partnerships and public awareness nertssary for a strategic investment in children, youth and families. The Centre is an independent, nonirofit institute funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services in Ontario. It drawson the multiple perspectives of community agencies, corporations, foundations, governments, researchers, and advocacy organizations. The issues surrounding education are key policyconcerns, not only for the Centre and the Ministry of Education, but for many others invested in better educationaloutcomes for Ontarians. Insights for this report have been shaped and strengthened bymany individuals who have volunteered their time and energy to the Centre. These include policy makers and researchersat the provincial and federal level, members and staff in Boards of Educationacross the province; principals, teachers, and students who discussed issues withus, members of sur Research Council, and others.We acknowledge and appreciate their vital contributionsto this report. More directly, this project represents the combined efforts of researchteam members from many organizations across the province.While the names of the project team members and their responsibilities are listed below, special recognitiongoes to Mary Bunch, who kept a complex set of roles and responsibilities on track, as well as drafting and editing thereport. vi Executive Summary Dramatic social, demographic, economic, technological, and other changes have placedincreasing pressure on our educational systems over recent years. This report, commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Education, assesses the context of these changes in light of educationaland reined profile data on 15 to 18 year old learners.In developing a perspectiv. on the problems and opportunities which face us today, the findings of thisreport suggest the need for a more responsive and flexible approach to classroom instruction,to the school as a community institution with open boundaries, and to the diversity of learning needs, backgrounds, and expectationsin our changing population. This report is intended as a resource for both the Ontario Ministry ofEducation and the various boards of education within the province,to