Two studies of the effects of "Sesame Street" are presented. In the first case, the study tested two hypotheses: (1) "Sesame Street" can prepare poverty children for first grade; and (2) "Sesame Street" can narrow the achievement gap between the poor and the middle-class child. Twenty-four pairs of poverty children…

Schools cannot change the language of children; the entire social structure is involved, particularly our patterns of social mobility and the values of lower class culture. At the early elementary level, children should be encouraged to use their own language to the fullest extent. Reading instruction for these youngsters should concern characters…

Long-term correlates of early child care and maternal employment were examined in a representative sample of 333 middle-class children ages 6 through 12. The results indicated that, for most middle-class children, early child care experiences had few, if any, lasting substantial influences when the concurrent contribution of family and child…

A study of the effect of teachers' asymmetric perceptions of girls and boys on 147 Jewish Israeli second and sixth graders' (78 males and 69 females) perceptions of student prominence in school relevant categories found that students judged more boys as prominent. Same-sex peers were also judged prominent. (JB)

Discusses some of the cultural and value differences between Native Americans and the dominant society that often cause discontinuity between traditional home and school life among Native American children and their families. Also discusses ways in which elementary school teachers can help Native American children achieve inner harmony between two…

Describes Positive Peer Culture (PPC), a school-based program for teaching social skills to adolescents, especially those in foster care or juvenile justice residential settings. Outlines problem types, discusses formal and informal group meetings and benefits of PPC (critical thinking, participatory democracy, real-world literacy, business…

Describes the work of the Progressive Era women specifically addressing the campaign for women's suffrage, the work of neighborhood unions, and the struggle for protective legislation. Expounds that even though these women fought for equal rights, they failed to break racial boundaries and denied future generations of women multiple roles in…

In this article, we test: (a) the relation between school-based extracurricular participation and indicators of positive and negative development across a range of activity contexts, and (b) a mediation model linking activity participation, prosocial peers, and development. Extensive survey information was collected from a predominately White…

This study explored two mothers' and two teachers' beliefs about who was responsible for children's teaching and learning. Participants were two teachers at Adams Elementary, a public school in middle-class suburban Boston (Massachusetts), and the mothers of two kindergartners there. The children were a boy and a girl, both firstborn and…

Many have regarded the recent civil disturbances in Los Angeles (California) as a wake-up call, a warning that the deterioration of America's cities, education systems, and public services, and the continuing decline of the underclass may result in a race war that could destroy society. The wake-up call is directed primarily at middle-class black…

THE USE OF LOW INCOME NONPROFESSIONAL WORKERS IN SOCIAL SERVICES WAS FOUND TO BENEFIT BOTH THE WORKER AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCY. FIRST, IT INCREASES THE VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SLUM DWELLER AND PROVIDES HIM WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF A SATISFYING JOB. SECOND, THE LOW INCOME NONPROFESSIONAL AS A "SOCIAL CLASS MEDIATOR"…

The impact of the Middle Income Student Assistance Act (MISAA) program was evaluated through analysis of financial aid to cohorts of students before and after MISAA, a longitudinal examination of a sample of students before and after its enactment, and a macro-level analysis of the effect of MISAA on the relationship between income and aid. The…

The association between lower-class vs. middle-class values and self-reported delinquency was the focus of this study of 485 Caucasian male and female high school and college students in rural, middle Tennessee. The typical student's family background was lower-middle class, as determined by his/her father's occupation. The values statements used…

Housing and social conditions in urban America suggest a major shift of the inner city poor to the older suburban neighborhoods. This paper explores that anticipated massive population exchange and suggests ways to measure its effect on the schooling process. The concern here is that thousands of poor city dwellers will relocate to the suburbs and…

Reported is a summer training institute for the directors and staffs of tutorial projects. The 30 interns were middle class college students who came to Detroit for a leadership training program combining field work, seminars, residence in disadvantaged communities, and intense personal and group interaction experiences. The goal was to develop…