The paper reviews a select body of literature that focuses on the role of teachers, schools, and communities at the local level in creating quality education in less-developed countries. The review asserts that understanding what is happening in schools and classrooms is a precondition for shaping more effective quality improvement strategies.…

Investigating what is viewed as an inseparable link between culture and politics, this book analyzes how many notions of patriotism, citizenship, community, and family are communicated within specific public and private institutions. The volume extends the meaning and purpose of pedagogy as a cultural practice outside the classroom, focusing on…

This booklet presents a guide for primary students studying a community. Students are to become aware of the many aspects of their community which make it unique. A variety of educational experiences are included with ideas for group lessons, group projects, individual projects, learning centers, and worksheets. All activities are open-ended so…

Interest in and support for language study has been strengthened in the United States in recent years by the growing recognition that proficiency in more than one language benefits both individual learners and society. For the individual language learner, research has found a positive link between second language proficiency and cognitive and…

This paper describes the the Reggio Emilia Approach and recommends adopting the curriculum for teaching science in U.S. schools. The underlying philosophy of this approach is its uniqueness within the constructivist paradigm and its potential as an exemplary early childhood program that can be adapted to teach young children science. The educators…

This sourcebook has been written to help workers and activists consider how they can introduce the idea of children's rights into their work of supporting and developing community groups. The sourcebook focuses on: (1) practical ways of introducing children's rights using exercises; (2) case studies of how some projects and organizations have…

Contemporary Black theatre offers audiences insight into a wide variety of Black lifestyles and experiences, such as those stemming from low self-esteem and quests for individual and collective awareness and liberation. Recognition by scholars, private and federal funding sources, and the audience at large are needed for the continued survival of…

Asserts that the "Brown" decision did little to redress the racism that keeps Blacks from obtaining equal education. Outlines strategies that the Black community might develop in order to achieve educational goals. (GC)

Describes concepts from social anthropology as confirming the traditional role and skills of the counselor--warm, emphatic, interpersonal communicator. Proposes counselors take comfort in the speculation that they actually serve the long-term needs of society, but that helping professionals should also be concerned about accountability. (JAC)

Discusses the value of using community jobs in the career education of handicapped students, and presents a model for developing an effective program. When preceded by appropriate classroom activities, the community job reinforces social skills training and career awareness. (JAC)

This paper argues for a renewed research effort on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of child abuse and neglect at the neighborhood level, based on evidence that the variance in rates of child maltreatment is accounted for by social class and neighborhood quality. Such research is seen as essential to development of effective child…

Recommendations for feasible and rigorous evaluation design formulated by a 1991 conference on the evaluation of comprehensive community interventions are summarized and illustrated through the example of a program for drug risk reduction. Implications of a multisite design with matched pairs randomized into intervention and comparison conditions…

Two male adults with cocaine dependence received a behavioral intervention comprised of contingency management and the community reinforcement approach. Reinforcement was delivered contingent on submitting cocaine-free (and subsequently marijuana-free) urine specimens. The intervention was efficacious in achieving abstinence from cocaine and…

Release of "A Nation at Risk Report" (1983) provoked citizens to embark on mission to improve schools, teaching, and learning. Evidence shows U.S. schools may not be in such dire shape as reported. Schools have shown they can prepare students for top universities but many do not graduate. To keep alive the promise of education reform and…