Using the 2002 Zelman v. Simmons-Harris educational voucher case in Cleveland, Ohio, as a point of departure, this article considers the past and current status of urban Catholic schools, appealing to the common good, to a common understanding, and to the common discourse in directing the United States' struggle to meet the needs of a diverse and…

Reviews literature on conceptions that adults and children have about poverty. It reveals society's predisposition to "blame the victim" which provides a moral justification for disenfranchisement of millions from the economic mainstream. Implications of this stereotyping about the poor being cultivated in children, and designing…

Data from 303 parents with at least one child were analyzed to investigate the relationship of parental characteristics to several measures of children's misconduct. Results found partial support for Social Learning, Control, and Strain theories of delinquency. Economic distress and parental mental illness were found to consistently promote…

Notes that the burden of budget reductions enacted by the 104th Congress have fallen disproportionately on programs for low-income families and individuals. Suggests that middle class entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare, which comprise more than half of the federal budget, would be a more prudent area in which to reduce spending.…

Current Population Survey data indicate that the rural poverty rate declined to 16.4% in 1994, after increasing during the early 1990s. Poverty is still most prevalent in the South, and rural minorities, women, and children are especially disadvantaged economically. Among racial/ethnic groups, Hispanics have the highest nonmetro poverty rate and…

Teachers at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, schools are developing a new approach to Title I, the federal program for disadvantaged students. Included are high academic standards, ongoing professional development, and developing a long-range plan. A sidebar lists web sites that offer information on Title I programs, especially effective schoolwide…

Reviews the evidence on the prevalence of child poverty in Britain including: (1) how child poverty has changed over the last 20 years; (2) how child poverty in Britain compares with that in other countries; (3) characteristics of poor children; (4) impact of poverty on child well-being; and (5) government attempts to abolish child poverty. (SD)

Authoritarian rule in Africa has exacerbated poverty levels in six ways. Achievement of greater democracy depends upon political culture and civil society in Africa becoming more democratic; education must play a part in teaching democratic values and behaviors. Examples show how education has not furthered democracy in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and…

Discusses how preschool helps children develop pre-mathematics, social, and language skills as well as confidence. Claims low-income children have the greatest need for high-quality early care to overcome the disadvantages of poverty, and argues that high-quality child care prevents later costs for special education, welfare, or job training…

Examined college students' attitudes and stereotypes regarding poor women, attributions for their poverty, and whether those thoughts and feelings differed from those about poor men. Attitudes and stereotypes were significantly more positive regarding poor women than poor men. Participants endorsed internal attributions for both women's and men's…

Discusses research related to the cost, causes, and consequences of teacher attrition especially in high-poverty schools. Includes four major factors influencing teacher attrition: Salaries, working conditions, teacher preparation, and mentor support. Draws implications for educational policy and practice. (Contains 28 references.) (PKP)

Reports the findings of a study aimed at learning from students and teachers in Black schools what classroom practices lead to success in school mathematics in their impoverished context. (Author/KHR)

Children, grades three through six, in Lawrence (Massachusetts) were studied during the 1986-87 school year to determine whether participation in the School Breakfast Program by low-income children is associated with improvements in standardized achievement test scores and attendance rates. Findings indicate that participation is associated with…

Proposes that parents of children attending public elementary schools with high poverty and low achievement profiles be paid to attend school with their children. Parents would also participate in personal development sessions and training sessions meeting individual needs and goals. This approach should improve the community's work force and…

Claims increased survival by Blacks and Hispanics is causing a widening of sex imbalance of elderly population with trends pointing to greater widowhood among minority women and continuing high rates of poverty. Claims increased rates of disability in minority elderly women, increased dependency, worsening intergenerational relationships, and…