Each year, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute conducts policy research in select topic areas for the Maine Legislature's Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. Ideas for studies are proposed in winter by a steering committee of education stakeholders, and final selections are made in late spring by the legislators. The issues that…

In the post-Apartheid era South Africa's universities have faced serious questions about the quality of their student learning in the face of near impossible challenges. The University of Cape Town, widely seen as the country's leading higher education institution, has shown remarkable resilience, however, in the range of initiatives it has…

"The United States today is a suburban nation that thinks of race as an urban issue, and often assumes that it has been largely solved," write the editors of this groundbreaking and passionately argued book. They show that the locus of racial and ethnic transformation is now clearly suburban and illustrate patterns of demographic change…

According to General Social Survey data from 1977 to 1989, Whites increasingly tend to cite lack of individual motivation as the cause of the Black-White socioeconomic gap; consequently there is little support at present for policies designed to improve the condition of Blacks. (DM)

Contrasts media representation of Blacks in the stirring days of the civil rights movement with the present day focus on drug use, homelessness, and crime. Concludes that this superficial and distorted view is harmful in general, not only to Blacks. (DM)

This digest deals with the challenges of living in a pluralistic society. Comprised of three articles, the first (by Diane S. Pollard) is a discussion of the problems resulting from the fragmented effort of the equity movement, as many different groups working for equity in gender, race, class, and other concerns, have sought independence from…

The Educational Institute of Scotland, a trade union representing approximately 80% of Scottish teachers, is committed to an anti-racist, anti-sexist education system which, in pursuing excellence for each learner, will also advance social equality. The conference reported in this document was designed to further this commitment. Papers presented…

The Oregon University System (OUS) annual diversity report provides: (1) a "vision" for diversity with continuing themes regarding the enhancement of representation, inclusion, and engagement; and (2) an overview of the progress made in racial/ethnic diversity within the populations of OUS students, faculty and staff. The purposes of this report…

Examines three U.S. versions of multicultural education: (1) cultural understanding (teaching to promote appreciation of ethnic differences); (2) cultural competence (bilingual education); and (3) cultural emancipation (inclusion of minority culture in the curriculum). Argues that differences among the approaches have implications for race…

Contends that the Los Angeles riots illustrated how a pluralistic society can come apart when its members lose faith in its moral character. Argues that teachers and administrators must provide students with experience in democratic problem solving within the school structure. Maintains that the Your Educational Success Program (YES) is an…

Defines symbolic racism theory and social dominance theory. Compares the two theories and how they affect racial policy attitudes such as busing, affirmative action, and welfare. Explains that the study reanalyses data previously collected. Discusses symbolic racism as a legitimizing myth. Reports that social dominance theory was more consistent…

This paper highlights recent developments in research on racism in the United States, and notes several conceptual issues of significance for the long-range planning work of those interested in reducing racism in America and particularly in Idaho. Growth in the number of minority researchers has resulted in increased attention toward racism as it…

This book presents papers from some leading social scientists and scholars who examine the contemporary contours of America's gang problem. New material is provided on wilding (i.e., running amok for no specific reason) gangs, migration and drug trafficking, and public education disruption. Other topics involve organization of gangs, their social…

Multicultural education, anti-racist education, and conflict resolution are curriculum-based approaches to reducing racial conflict. Since the 1930s, attempts have been made to develop curricula to change negative racial attitudes and encourage appreciation for people of all races. In the 1980s, multicultural education has focused on the unique…

Reports the results of a 1962 to 1974 survey which examined the nature of educational experiences and social interactions of black students at predominantly white library schools. Possible areas of discrimination explored included classroom interactions, grading procedures, advising, and social interactions with white students. (CLB)