This study examined the ways in which eighth grade girls in an urban middle school constructed social identities through their experiences with literary texts. It focused on what sociocultural representations about female identity and gendered expectations emerged in the transactions in the literacy events these girls experienced in English class.…

This paper describes the Chicagoland Deaf Parent to Hearing Parent Project, an initiative intended to bridge the cultural gaps between the deaf community and the hearing parents and school personnel who are nurturing and educating children who are deaf. Through a series of workshops that take place in schools and community centers, parents who are…

In April 1997, the American Association of Community Colleges surveyed 1,450 community college presidents in order to find out the state of race and ethnic relations and diversity programming in community colleges. Respondents were asked to identify their campus climate, along a five-point scale, as "contentious" or…

The major purpose of this study was to determine if the influences of educational productivity factors on achievement and attitudes are the same for African Americans and other ethnic groups. Using Walberg's Educational Productivity Model as a framework, this study estimated the influence of home environment, quality and quantity of instruction,…

The apparently simple question of whether there are commonly accepted "best practices" for infant and toddler care leads to further questions regarding the nature of childhood and the impact of cultural values. This report reviews recent theory, training, and practice in the care of children outside their homes. Section 1 of the report…

This book focuses on how to meet the challenges of education in a pluralistic society, presenting the Bridging Cultures framework, which is designed for understanding differences and conflicts that arise in situations where school culture is more individualistic than the home value system. Six sections examine: (1) "The Bridging Cultures…

This study sought to develop a valid and reliable instrument to measure student perceptions of good college teaching from a cross-cultural perspective. A total of 63 graduate and undergraduate students from various ethnic and racial groups (Caucasian, African American, Hispanic American, and Asian American) completed a set of open-ended questions…

Mother-infant interaction creates a context for socioemotional, behavioral, and cognitive development. This study used the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (NCAFS) and the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS) to examine mother-infant interaction in Japanese dyads. Subjects were residing in Hikkaido, Japan, and assessments were…

The challenges of identity formation are particularly difficult for minority youth because of the clash of traditional culture and the host culture. This study examined the effects of parenting style, acculturation, and parent and adolescent ethnic identity on the self-esteem and school performance of East Indian and European American adolescents.…

This paper discusses the Person's with Disabilities Act (PDA) passed in 1995 in India and compares it with the United State's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997. The comparison indicates the PDA is more limited in its coverage, does not include due process procedures, and does not fund the education of individuals with…

This paper examines how semiotic analysis may be useful in teaching media literacy to nonnative speakers of English (NNSs), including both immigrants and international students who plan to return to their countries. It focuses on two television shows. The first show, "Friends," covers issues and problems of contemporary urban life for…

This document is intended to provide educators with guidance and strategies to increase the participation of families from diverse backgrounds in mediation programs to settle differences about educational programs for children with disabilities. Introductory information discusses what mediation is, who mediators are, a typical mediation process,…

Examines potential sources of bias in aptitude and achievement testing of minority and, particularly, Black students. Holds that bias in standardized tests cannot be properly understood without reference to the socioeconomic matrix from which it has evolved. (Author/GC)

Case studies of reactions of various cultures to western health practices, from Benjamin Paul's book "Health, Culture and Community" (1955), are reviewed. It is noted that this book, which makes the point that cultures and perceptions of different countries and peoples will always vary, is still not too "dated" for instructional use. (CJ)

In eight articles, discusses values clarification: its history, controversial issues, and future. Addresses the application of values clarification in career counseling, school counseling, counselor training, civil liberties, and counseling the culturally different. An annotated bibliography is included. (JAC)