The author is a middle school principal who has spent a decade working on improving literacy among his largely socio-economically disadvantaged student body. Experience and research have shown, the author says, that a successful effort to bridge the literacy gap between children who live in poverty and middle-class students requires a concerted…

Argues that the humanism movement is imperiled by ill definition, misunderstanding, and resistance. The author redefines it and calls for "real" humanists to advance the cause. (Author)

Other relatives and friends, as well as parents, can contribute to a youngster's achievement in school. For parents to have an impact, they must be made to feel welcome in the schools. (Author/IRT)

This article presents a reply to "Edison Is the Symptom, NCLB Is the Disease" by Peter Campbell--a critique that portrayed the school as an exploitative environment, a veritable plantation subjugating poor minority children through mind-numbing, compliance-inducing drills. The author refutes the specific charges leveled against…

Schools can increase their outreach to get parents involved. Once parents are involved, the schools must be careful that students don't use education to escape the community and their parents, and that education does not result in making children ashamed of their parents. (Author/IRT)

A generation after President Lyndon Johnson declared an official War on Poverty, nearly one-fifth of America's youngest citizens still grow up poor. The younger the child, the greater the chances of its being poor. Congress, the states, and local communities must rewrite the options of opportunity for these children. A resource list is provided.…

Describes experiences of student ambassadors and alumni in the Academic Talent Development Program, a K-12 summer program for economically disadvantaged students offered by the University of California, Berkeley. Includes story of two students' experiences with a "Shakespeare as Theatre" class. (PKP)

New York's League School is developing a mini-network of day-school centers for seriously disturbed children in poverty areas. (Author)

Changes in the social setting of the 1970's could eliminate the need for a special curriculum for the disadvantaged child, with the exception of preschool programs. A more critical need appears to be improved teaching methods capable of rewarding and improving the self-image of disadvantaged children. (JH)

To assure that children emerge from the subculture of poverty, the teacher of the least privileged students must be prepared to vicariously enter their world, our curriculum needs to be brought closer to life, and our understanding of justice needs to be refined. (Author/IRT)

Studies prove that children can be taught if they are accepted and respected. They will not learn if they are approached as if they cannot. (Author/IRT)

Describes what happened to the Head Start teacher aide idea when it was taken over by middle-class schools. (Author)

Act 101 funds provide special classes, counseling, and tutorial support for participating academically, economically, and culturally deprived college students. (Author/IRT)