Describes the economic, demographic, social, and emotional status of rural Americans at the end of the twentieth century, noting accelerating forces that are changing the nature of that sector. The article looks at what the future holds for the 6.6 million students who attend rural schools. (SM)

When children of literate elite need help, their parents can furnish what school has missed. When children of print poor need help, they have nowhere to turn. To break the illiteracy cycle, schools must help parents understand how to help their children at home. Sidebars describe the Megaskills program and show how teachers can foster family…

This paper considers opposing viewpoints on usefulness of the classification of "street children" in an international context and proposes a working compromise based on a hierarchy of street use, from minimal to total dependency on the streets. Different types of education/welfare intervention are needed at these different levels. (DB)

Examined relationship between employment preferences and well-being among 111 black, single, employed mothers with preschool child and low income. Mothers whose employment status was consistent with preference had lower role strain and higher life satisfaction. Having no education past high school and male child predicted significantly higher…

Examines 1970-80 trends in the distribution of family income and shifts in the degree of segregation between income groups using a special data set for 60 U.S. metropolitan areas. Explains how change contributes to increases in the spatial concentration of affluence and poverty. Simple descriptive models are estimated. (SLD)

Interviews with homeless people in east Tennessee reveal how they came to be homeless and the problems encompassing homelessness. Most did not develop the sense of home that is formed early in life in stable families and that contributes to formation of self-concept. (LP)

Bernie Bickerstaff discusses how growing up as an African-American athlete in rural Kentucky prepared him to become the general manager of the Denver Nuggets. Triumphing over the area's racial segregation, poverty, and mining perils gave him a sense of strength that enabled him to overcome barriers in advancing his career. (LP)

Suggests that educating all students entails going beyond seeking ways to enable marginalized students to engage in present educational forms. An education for homeless and minority children involves rethinking foundational assumptions about the nature of the disciplines, the purposes of education, and the role of teachers. Respecting diversity…

Examines the impact of European demographic changes on discontinuities in young children's lives. Maintains that early childhood educators should react to changes on the contextual and familial level. Advocates teaching children coping strategies for transitions in individual and family development and in the educational system. (Author/KB)

Examines historical precedents for removing poor children from their families, reviews relevant experiences of Native Americans, and analyzes child placement through the lens of poverty. The role of the federal government in child protection is examined by comparing the Indian Child Welfare Act and the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act.…

In 1996, rural children had higher poverty and just-over poverty rates than urban children. Compared to rural white children, rural minority children had less-educated parents and were more likely to live in poverty, in families with a single parent or without an earner, and in families dependent on social-welfare programs. (Author/SV)

Uses a causal model to understand the direct and mediated effects of neighborhood disadvantage and family structure on youth expectations. Demonstrates that the employment expectations of adolescents are significantly lower in both nonintact and welfare homes in comparison to youth in other households. Discusses implications for social policy in…

Used data from the British Household Panel Survey to examine the relationship between income and deprivation. Found that, although income was a major determinant of deprivation, the two did not overlap entirely. Household structure accounted partly for the relatively weak relationship between income and deprivation. Children growing up with…

A group of articles addresses concerns about academic freedom in Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Additional articles contain a human-rights lawyer's appeal to academics for an international organization and a UNESCO statement on faculty rights and responsibilities. (MSE)

Study used a set of life tables built from 25 waves of longitudinal data to estimate the proportion of children who will experience poverty. Life tables revealed that race, family structure, and parental education are causative factors. Determined that 69% of Black children, 81% of children in nonmarried households, and 63% of children whose…