Community integration of individuals with mental retardation in Treguier, Brittany (France) was examined. A grid-group typology of cultural regimes was employed to measure change in social status as reflected in social interactions. Each regime linked the presence of individuals with mental retardation to shared values in a community and produced…

Two films, the fictional "Thunderheart" and the documentary "Incident at Oglala," demonstrate that Hollywood can sometimes portray the ethnic conflicts of Native Americans accurately. Both explain the ambivalent relationship with the dominant society that Native Americans have chosen through their refusal to be patronized. (SLD)

School-based mutual support groups (MSGs) are proposed to enhance school involvement of parents from lower socioeconomic and ethnic minority backgrounds. A school-based MSG format is presented with results of a survey of interests from 62 parents (36 respondents and 26 nonrespondents) and a discussion of a pilot demonstration in 3 urban elementary…

Provides overview of current status of African-American male college students, focusing on the disparity in representation and accomplishment as compared to their female counterparts. Reviewed 6,765 students' survey responses to assess distinct needs. Recommends that student affairs practitioners be attentive to the underpreparedness and special…

Considers issues of equality of opportunity and access for educational computer use, including those of socioeconomic status, ethnic minority status, and gender. Suggests ways to promote equitable computer use. Intuitive evidence suggests that adding technology to the curriculum is likely to favor the relatively advantaged students with access to…

Recently states have increasingly turned to managed care arrangements to finance and deliver health services to Medicaid beneficiaries. As this trend continues, states should carefully monitor changes in program costs and quality and implications for delivery of pediatric services and health outcomes for children. (SLD)

A case study illustrates the application of this ecological approach, which begins by understanding the student's sociocultural context, including socioeconomic status, and the impact of acculturation on the student and family. Less acculturated students have difficulty at school; when more acculturated, they often have conflicts at home.…

Examined how a curriculum development project, aligned with current mathematics education reforms, affected 18 students in socially diverse mathematics classroom. Found that students of lower socioeconomic status preferred direct teacher intervention as opposed to open discussions among classmates. Higher socioeconomic status students displayed…

Examines the database for the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS:88) for connections between student use of computers in math and science classes and their academic success. Finds that computer use was significantly correlated with gender, socioeconomic status, parent's level of education, and Item Response Theory (IRT) scores.…

Believes that with the turn of the millennium, the United States should undergo a self-examination of the state of democracy in the country. Addresses various concerns in relation to societal reform movements and idealism, the country's performance on the world stage, inequalities still prevalent in society, and the call for social justice. (CMK)

Provides an overview of the inequalities of access to higher education in Greece at the national level showing patterns of differentiation between the scientific disciplines and between occupations in the labor market. Offers the "Indices of Educational Opportunities" to show the patterns of student distribution in universities and other…

Investigates the levels of psychological health, stress, social attitudes, and the pattern of alcohol and drug consumption among the undergraduates in a single college within Oxford University (England). Reveals a high level of contentment with college life, a small minority of unhappy students, and no correlation between drug/alcohol use and…

The American Council on Education's new survey of 2,297 college presidents in diverse institutions found more women and, to a lesser extent, minorities are becoming presidents, but white men predominate. Presidents are serving somewhat longer terms, except in doctoral-granting institutions. New presidents are coming to the job with more…

Reports on research conducted in poor Puerto Rican households in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) that shows the complex relationships between household members' survival strategies, residential mobility, home-school connections, and students' learning. Results from five families show that household stability is the strongest factor affecting students'…

Describes action research conducted in a Partnership in Scotland designed to help local people improve their living conditions through economic, environmental, social, and educational efforts. Action research and the use of Quality Circles resulted in the identification of educational problem areas and a plan for educational improvement. (SLD)