This research was designed to assess public school principal's perceptions of the type of children that should be referred for placement in a class for the emotionally disturbed. A sample of 164 public school principals responded to a request to rank order a list of behaviors commonly associated with emotionally disturbed children. The results were factor analyzed and the factor interpretation revealed some unusual results. Contrary to common practice, conduct problem children were not ranked high. Rather, the hypersensitive, easily hurt child was considered most in need of services by these administrators.
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