Asserts that educators often provide a too-limited view of culture in exploring the life experiences of diverse racial groups within the curriculum. Provides data from an investigation of two Hispanic households, emphasizing the influence of socioeconomic status. Suggests that such an analysis provides a more complete understanding of students'…

Poverty, inequality, and discrimination endanger women's well-being. Poverty is a consistent predictor of depression in women. Economic inequalities relate to reduced life expectancy and various negative physical health consequences. Discrimination maintains inequalities, lessens economic security, and exposes women to unmerited contempt.…

Uses J Bowbly's (1969) theory of attachment as a framework for considering the implications of a lack of outdoor access for parental strategies and for the interaction of parents and children in low-income families. It argues that having access to outdoor play opportunities is supportive of healthy child development and responsive parenting and…

Notes that children and adolescents appear to suffer the most detrimental effects of homelessness. Discusses the problems faced by homeless youth and the educational systems that must respond to them, including causes and demographics of homelessness, detrimental effects of shelters, the victimization of homeless adolescents, and educational and…

Interviewed 462 Kenyan parents, grandparents, children, preschool teachers, community leaders, and professionals working with children and families to examine impacts of social and economic change on early childhood. Found the most common theme was the issue of increasing poverty and related problems. Also noted family changes, such as the rapid…

Examined over 3 years high-achieving high-poverty middle schools to determine school practices and policies associated with higher student achievement. Found that high-poverty middle schools that are high performing acquire grants and manage money well, use a variety of teaming configurations, and use data-based goals to improve student…

Authoritative parenting has been demonstrated to promote healthy, loving children across home environments of different SES income levels. However, anecdotal evidence shows that some children who encounter nonsupporting parenting and an impoverished environment may develop into remarkably resilient children. Further research is needed in this area…

Investigated the vocational aspirations and expectations of African American adolescent mothers living in urban poverty. Data on girls from an alternative school for pregnant/parenting teens indicated that depressive and anxious symptoms along with childcare provided by relatives were associated with a gap between aspirations and expectations.…

Examines the legislative context of the new McKinney-Vento provisions, looking at the characteristics of homelessness and the resultant educational barriers that these provisions are attempting to address, and describing how two Texas school districts have responded to the challenges of providing transportation to ensure that students in homeless…

Provides an overview of social class, poverty, and welfare issues. Focuses on a course called, "The Welfare State," used at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas). Describes two course assignments: (1) social class and genealogy and childhood memories assignment; and (2) the poverty lunch project. Includes references. (CMK)

Compared poor, minority, inner-city elementary students with white, affluent students regarding students' perceptions of scientists, levels of disciplinary knowledge, sources of science information, voluntary science-related activities, and desired amounts of school science instruction. Student surveys indicated that level of science knowledge was…

Investigates associations between students' perceptions of their social environment and academic outcomes. Results suggest that contextual factors influence students over and above their perceptions of their environment and demonstrate the value of considering the social context in which a students lives when choosing interventions. (Contains 36…

A study of verbal interaction between mothers and children in 24 poor families in Santiago, Chile, focused on the number and type of conversations, the times they began, their length, the number of subjects discussed, and the mother's role in them. Results indicate that the quality of interaction between mothers and children in poor homes can be…

In 1987, 10 percent of rural families headed by a worker had incomes below poverty level. Worker poverty was related to working part of the year or part time; having children; or being under 25-years old, Black, Hispanic, a high school dropout, or a single female head of household. (SV)

It is argued that intergenerational poverty has devastating effects on families and children; and intensive targeted interventions in the first five years of life are effective in preventing intellectual dysfunction resulting from poverty. Issues related to developing and implementing national efforts to prevent environmentally induced handicaps…