The basic skills movement is viewed as a reaction, by sections of the middle class, to educational changes of the 1960s and 1970s. Curriculum changes during those years threatened the ability of the educated, white-collar worker to pass cultural advantages on to his or her offspring. (PP)

Trotman responds to two criticisms of her previous research (EJ 168 902) on racial differences in intelligence and achievement. She clarifies the conclusions criticized by Longstreth (TM 503 913) and criticizes the conclusions reached by Wolff (TM 503 914). (BH)

A study of parent contributions to dependent student's college costs in 1983 and 1987 found that contributions have increased significantly in general and for the $40,000-50,000 income group in particular. (Author/MSE)

In a population of 3,461 high school seniors, achievement values were higher among females than males, were related to parental socioeconomic status, size of residence, and to educational performance and aspiration. (Author)

Disagrees with research showing that socioeconomic status has little impact on parental involvement in children's education. From the author's own experience, working-class parents are as concerned as affluent ones about children's progress, but have less energy/time for participation. In other research, a new assessment instrument may help…

Trotman's study (EJ 168 902) correlating child rearing in Black and White samples to children's achievement and intelligence is criticized. Trotman made several erroneous conclusions, and did not add important information about the nature nurture controversy as it applies to racial differences in intelligence. (Author/BH)

In a Fort Collins, Colorado, school district, parents whose children attend alternative schools choose schools for all the right reasons. Unfortunately, only a limited segment of parents exercises a choice. Teachers say alternative schools skim off the most motivated parents and students, leaving the problem children behind. These survey results…

Research examined the learning effects that encouraging Israeli mothers to co-observe Sesame Street with their five-year-olds had. The mechanism which mediated such effects was also investigated. A total of 93 kindergarten children, drawn about equally from lower and middle class families, was divided between mothers' encouraged and non-encouraged…

Two groups of mothers and children were sampled for this study. One group of 39 was identified as middle-income or higher and the other group of 32 was identified as lower-income. The children ranged in age from kindergarten through third grade. The teaching task was adapted from the Eight Block Sort used by Hess, et al. (1968). No reliable…

Examined the use of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires with 96 low- and middle-income parents on their child from 4 to 30 months. Found that percent agreement between a professionally-administered standardized assessment and questionnaires completed by low and middle-income parents was 80% to 91% and 85% to 93%, respectively. (Author/KB)

An investigation was conducted of socioeconomic differences in the cognitive style and content of mother/child interaction, through the use of a task in which mothers attempted to get their children to point to the target item in an array of four pictures. Subjects were 32 mother/child dyads, half black and half white. Within each ethnic group,…

This study explores, from a critical-theory perspective, the relationship of power among stakeholders in either a mandated or voluntary elementary-school-site decision-making body (SSDMB). The purpose is to describe, explain, and clarify complexities regarding the influence exerted by parents on the decision-making process in two selected…

A social structural theory of social class differences as reflected in the nature of parent's work, is used to explore class-differentiated family background influences on school and achievement related outcomes of adolescents. Father's high or low job complexity is thought to be related to parental values for either self-direction or conformity,…

This paper traces the development of the Maternal Teaching Style Instrument (MTSI) at the Demonstration and Research Center for Early Education (DARCEE). The MTSI was developed to document changes in maternal behavior; to better understand the role of maternal behavior as it influences children's cognitive growth and development and to redefine…

A study was made to assess whether middle-class men who were primary caregivers for their preschool-age children continued as such when their children were of school age. The attempt was made to predict level of paternal involvement 4 years later; also explored were the stability and predictors of father involvement over a 4-year period when the…