Content analysis of 12 Finnish and 18 American primers for grades 3 through 6 published primarily during the 1980s examined story type, plot setting, protagonist's characteristics, dramatic tasks, portrayals of family structure and parental responsibility, and extrafamilial peer and adult relationships. Results suggest that a nation's cultural…

Uses data from an ethnographic study of Mexicanos and Anglos in south Texas society and schools to formulate a performance perspective of cultural reproduction and resistance. Examines ethnic and class differences in classroom "making-out" games and the role of pop-culture practices among youth in reproducing class and gender inequities.…

Attempts to show that under certain circumstances, hidden curricula of schools perform an important function in maintenance of character myths. Applies Ernest Gellner's concept of conceptual incoherence to the role of the "Mechanech" (similar to American homeroom teachers, with responsibilities for pastoral care and moral education) in…

Critical analysis of the ideological character of vocational training initiatives implemented in South Africa, 1976-89, and comparison to "new vocationalism" in Great Britain suggest that South African training programs aim to instill capitalist values and stabilize labor relations while doing little to improve Black participation in the…

Elite secondary boarding schools educate and socialize students from socially elite backgrounds in ways that reflect the different characters of English and American society. Observations and interviews in 5 English and 12 American elite schools focused on leadership styles; discipline; curriculum; teaching style; and the structure of…

Examines how democratization of schooling is being shaped in Latin America and how dangerous delusions and exclusions affect the treatment of gender in this process. Focuses on initiatives and development policies of international aid agencies, their research projects, and international conferences. Suggests that democratization requires a larger…