This short profile of the trends in the employment of women in skilled trades and other manual occupations during the 5-year period between 1983 and 1988 shows that the number of women in these occupations rose only modestly. Three tables chart the total numbers of persons employed in the trades by sex for the years 1983 and 1988; persons employed…

This national survey of 2,299 elderly Hispanic Americans found that a great number face a daily struggle, living on limited incomes and coping with poor health. Problems in later years are the result of immigration patterns, low educational attainment, and limited English proficiency that have resulted in a lifetime of low income, no pension, and…

A study was conducted to determine whether a medical facility could provide an ecologically viable base for an educational intervention program for low income parents of preschool children. A total of 518 mother/child dyads participated in the study. Children were 20 to 39 months of age; 60 percent were Hispanic, and 40 percent were Black. Since a…

Background information is provided on the four sites where the Spanish-English component of a longitudinal study of language development was conducted. The study was designed to examine the dynamic process of language acquisition over time in bilingual children. Each of the four schools selected was in a different geographical and sociocultural…

The use of the data files contained in the High School and Beyond (HSB) research project is discussed. The comments are based on an analysis of the HSB material and are specifically directed at the language file, high school bilingual program participation, and HSB tests. In an evaluation of the language file, the question of whether Hispanic…

A course in Spanish-American Folklore and the Arts is offered in English at Purdue. It aims to acquaint students with development of folklore and arts in Latin America and to increase awareness of and receptivity to Latin America and its people. Procedures, instructional materials, student evaluation and results are discussed. (CHK)

This study examined population invariance of equating functions over subgroups defined by ethnicity on a teacher certification test. Investigating subgroup equating invariance was important because the total group who took this test consists of two subgroups (i.e., Hispanic and non-Hispanic) and the Hispanic group is a distinctively more able…

The digest is based on a full length report (with the same title) on African-American and Hispanic faculty at predominantly white, four-year institutions of higher education. The full report provides a definitive review of the literature and institutional practice on the topic. Three topics are discussed: (1) how necessary affirmative action…

This 1989 triennial report of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) concerns the colleges and universities in the United States and Puerto Rico which serve significant numbers of Hispanic postsecondary students. For the purposes of this report, Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI) are those having a minimum of 25% Hispanic…

Students come to the classroom with theories that they have actively constructed from their everyday experiences. However, some of these theories are incomplete half-truths. Although such misconceptions interfere with new learning, students are often emotionally and intellectually attached to them. Some common mathematical misconceptions involve:…

Changing alcohol and drug use patterns among women and ethnic minorities, such as the over-representation of Hispanics in alcohol-related deaths, drunk driving arrests, and treatment facilities, emphasize the importance of understanding substance use patterns in these populations. This study attempted to identify a single cause of substance abuse…

Four papers concerning the Lawrence (Massachusetts) Literacy Coalition, a consortium of 12 two- and four-year colleges supporting adult literacy activities in the region, are presented. The first paper offers an overview of the coalition, including the reasons for its formation, a definition of literacy, the scope of the coalition's work, and…

The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) has failed to provide Hispanic Americans with urgently needed training and education. Low educational attainment, limited English proficiency, and illiteracy pose barriers to Hispanic employment. A recent analysis of Hispanic participation in JTPA reported the following findings: (1) participation has been…

This compilation of seven briefs is intended to help citizens lobby United States senators, representatives, and their staff members on issues of importance to the Hispanic American community. Each brief synopsizes an issue, reviews current proposals for addressing the issue, and suggests the appropriate action that the member of congress should…

This study examined attitudes among Puerto Rican-American parents toward the processes of assessment, placement and instruction of students with disabilities. Twelve such families in a low-income, mostly Hispanic urban community were interviewed and observed and ethnographic methods used to assess the role of their culture in parents'…