SIX SUB-SCALES WERE PRODUCED MEASURING STAFF ATTITUDES TO THE CONTROL OF CHILDREN, AND STAFF RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN. THESE APPEARED TO REFLECT A SINGLE UNDERLYING CONCEPT OF 'TRADITIONALISM'; A BELIEF IN STRICT DISCIPLINE, HARD WORK AND FORMAL RELATIONSHIPS. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDES AND A NUMBER OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL VARIABLES WAS EXAMINED: AGE, SEX, PROFESSION, TRAINING, SCHOOL OF EMPLOYMENT, LENGTH OF SERVICE AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. SEX DID NOT RELATE TO ATTITUDES, BUT THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF OTHER VARIABLES SUGGESTED THAT PRESENT POSITION (DEFINED BY THE PROFESSIONAL POST OCCUPIED AND THE SCHOOL OF EMPLOYMENT) WAS A MORE IMPORTANT PREDICTOR THAN WERE TRAINING, AGE, OR EXPERIENCE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT GROUP SUPPORT PLAYS A CRUCIAL PART IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING SCHOOL ATTITUDE CLIMATES.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...TWH