This article introduces a forum that explores issues surrounding literacy in multicultural school-age populations. It discusses sociocultural factors that overshadow traditional literacy-learning objectives, the relationship between low socioeconomic status and low literacy, environmental influences that affect literacy, and culturally biased…

Discusses poverty and its implications for education in Latin America. Focuses on gender as a social construct that differentiates the impact of poverty. Analyzes interaction of gender, class, and public policy. Examines aspects of national and global policy processes and educational disparities in society related to the education of girls. (CAJ)

Summarizes a study that reveals that light-skin-toned and European-looking Mexican Americans receive about 1.5 more years of schooling that darker and more Indian-looking Mexican Americans. Differences in schooling by phenotype persisted with and without controls for other factors. Includes tables of statistical data. (MJP)

Examined cognitive competencies and motivation in economically advantaged and disadvantaged preschoolers and kindergartners over a two-year period. Found that disadvantaged children had poorer cognitive scores than advantaged children. Cognitive gains were equal after one or two years in school, with socioeconomic status (SES) differences…

Complains that during a time of economic strength, a nation led by a Democratic president is producing a higher-education plan that does nothing to help poor people go to college. Instead, political efforts attempt to reduce educational costs for the predominantly white upper-middle and wealthy classes whose children are already almost certain to…

Discusses demographic diversification and implications for the American educational system. The United States is aging rapidly, has polarized wealth and poverty, has more Latin American and Asian immigrants, and is becoming increasingly mobile, suburban, and non-Caucasian. The best predictors of school achievement are household income and parents'…

Interviewed 25 high school seniors and juniors from three schools in the northeastern United States about their images of America. Three themes predominated: (1) inequity associated with race, gender, socioeconomic status, or disability; (2) freedom, including rights and opportunities; and (3) diversity of race, ethnicity, culture, and geography.…

Examines cultural factors affecting black and Hispanic deaf students' achievement, discussing socioeconomic status and single parent families, parent educational levels, non-English speaking environments, inadvertent effects on the deaf child, family view of disability, and parent-school interactions. Notes strategies for developing parents as…

This study examined role of shared family context in understanding differential parenting. Findings indicated that child age was the strongest child-specific predictor of positivity and differential positivity. Lower SES, marital dissatisfaction, and larger family size related to higher differential positivity. Children's temperament related to…

A longitudinal study of 113 children (ages 3-10), including 35 with poor reading skills, found both socioeconomic status, Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment scores, and reading achievement scores were related to reading abilities, but preschool environment measures were more strongly and consistently related to and predictive of…

A sample of 583 education students (217 males and 366 females) from 10 Canadian universities responded to a questionnaire on their backgrounds, habits, and outlooks. This study investigates variability associated with socioeconomic status, gender, parental background, rationale for entering education, and reading and mass media use habits. (TJH)

Describes field and experimental research that sought means to promote respect for lower status outgroups. Explores alternative approaches to improving justice. Reviews recent empirical work focused on the following topics: (1) reducing negative stereotypes; (2) diminishing justifications for bias; and (3) increasing intergroup attraction. (JS)

Presents an integrative path model that details relationships among several demographic variables, life stress, depression, hopelessness, social support, and suicidal ideation of 737 college students. Found negative life stress to be a significant predictor of both depression and hopelessness. Depression proved to be a better predictor of suicidal…

The paper details likely incomes and living costs of law graduates as related to educational costs and debts. Concern is expressed about the deterrent effect of potential high debt on minorities and an approach to financial aid which would take minority status into account is urged. (Author/DB)

Analyzes the "deficit theory," which suggests that children from lower socioeconomic environments enter school without the linguistic resources needed for success. Suggests that teachers avoid labeling children as verbally inept when their language does not conform to the teacher's linguistic model. (MM)