Examines whether U.S. public is underinvesting in its children. Several measures indicate a deterioration in the well-being of children in the past few decades, and some measures suggest a decline in crucial inputs from parents to children (i.e., parenting hours). Ways to increase society's investment in children are discussed. (SLD)

Examines 115 successful television series portraying white and African-American families across 4 decades of U.S. prime-time television for the structure and characteristics of the families. The data show a trend toward more equal presentation of conventional and nonconventional families, few divorced or female single parents, and few minority…

Traditional on-campus students (n=37) and students in the off-campus segment (n=56) of the University of Kentucky's doctoral program in pharmacy were compared for age, work experience, employment patterns, marital and parental status, and undergraduate grade point average. Characteristics before and after offering of an off-campus option were also…

Describes a study of Texas public elementary schools that was conducted to determine whether there were significant differences between professional and paraprofessional media specialists in personality traits, interaction patterns with school staff, and status as an indicator of their perceived expertise in instructional matters among classroom…

Roles of language proficiency and general developmental factors on metaphor interpretation were examined for 60 Spanish- and English-speaking and 60 monolingual English-speaking children aged 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 years. Language proficiency in English and socioeconomic status were considered, but both were less important in metaphor interpretation…

Recommends using U.S. Bureau of the Census data as historical research resource and illustrates how to use data through analysis of tenement residents in New York City, at 97 Orchard Street. Census records provide information that allow an analysis of the changing social demographics of occupancy in large city tenements. Includes primary documents…

Illinois birth records in 1985 provide information about the educational levels of black, white, and Hispanic-American adolescents aged 15 to 19 years having first and second births. Age and ethnic differences exist in the relationship of first and second births to educational levels of young parents. (SLD)

Census and student questionnaire data for 382 African-American and 3,467 white high school students from suburban San Francisco (California) indicate consistent positive relationships among grades and family status, level of parental education, and a two-parent home only for the white majority. The community context is important in understanding…

Investigates the relationship between family social status of 1,734 seventh through twelfth grade students in an urban Southern California district and crime or delinquency committed by these students in a school context. Acts of school delinquency are related to school attendance, sex, and age. Discusses reasons for the relationships. (SLD)

Proposes to replace the principle of equal opportunity with an "anti-caste" principle to build a new society and to secure economic and social rights. Suggests a United States Charter for Socioeconomic Rights. Outlines the moral, legal, and political bases for the proposal and offers a Charter version. (JB)

In a follow-up study, academic achievement results from 2 years later are added to data from 1990 for 1,208 seventh and ninth graders for whom relationships between achievement and time use were studied. Results focus on competition of time uses for the time and attention of the adolescent. (SLD)

Describes organizational conditions and social processes related to family-school interactions that are necessary to promote school-linked social service systems. Case studies of two elementary schools with students of low socioeconomic status are used to compare school policies and procedures. Policy proposals are presented for expanding and…

A study compared the life experiences of 390 men and 138 women graduating from Harvard University and Radcliffe College in one mid-1960s class, comparing students attending elite preparatory schools, nonelite private schools, and public schools. Public school graduates accumulated more "cultural capital" whereas elite prep school…

Measures of preschool cognition and indicators of family socioeconomic status predicted school enrollment for children in four Guatemalan villages. For children who went to school, socioeconomic status and preschool abilities were associated with age-at-entry, and with the number of grades passed and the maximum grade attained through age seven.…

Confirms hypotheses correlating adolescent competence (comprised of dependability, intelligence, and self-confidence) with personal stability, career, and marital satisfaction. Uses data from a longitudinal cohort studied over 50 years and from recent interviews with 60 of the original group members. Concludes that early socialization largely…