Interviews with Canadian day care workers and minority parents showed that the two groups disagreed about why parents are not involved enough; were unaware of their basic differences in ECE goals; and disagreed substantially over what constitutes proper child-rearing methods. Discriminatory incidents were not uncommon at centers, although teachers…

A study examining discipline styles among five midwestern African American families from various socioeconomic backgrounds revealed the interpersonal, social, and cultural aspects of discipline in African American families. Offers social work intervention strategies that reinforce alternative discipline styles and recognize parents' need to teach…

The relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement was examined. Black eighth graders and white eighth graders completed achievement tests and described school and nonschool activities. Amount of participation was positively related to academic achievement. The relationship was stronger for white students…

Describes the struggles children of multiracial families face in their daily lives and at school where they commonly experience the social isolation of not belonging to a defined group. The commentary, "Shades of Grey," explores the debate over racial categories, explaining its base in changing social standards. (SLD)

European- and African-American mothers reported their use of physical discipline with their children. Mothers, teachers, and peers rated the children's externalizing problems annually from kindergarten through grade 3. Found that physical discipline was associated with higher teacher- and peer-rated externalizing scores for European-American…

Examined developmental trajectories toward violence over middle childhood and children's response to a universal school-based preventive intervention. Found that three growth patterns--positive linear, late acceleration, and gradual deceleration--characterized the children's trajectories, and these trajectories varied meaningfully by child…

This article comments on a study that found children (ages 0-3) who were disadvantaged, from minority groups, or without health insurance were 2 to 30 times more likely to have unmet health care needs. The "medical home" philosophy is discussed, in which medical care is accessible, comprehensive, and family centered. (Contains 8 references.) (CR)

Elasticities generated from ecological regressions indicate a Black disadvantage, relative to Hispanics and Asians, in converting education and income into desirable residential outcomes in their neighborhoods. However, differences were less than those found in previous studies and those inferred from levels of segregation. Education was critical…

Summarizes survey results concerning employment patterns of, and child care arrangements used by, parents of four-year olds in three North Carolina counties. Child care arrangements varied by site, marital status, race, family socioeconomic characteristics, and parental educational level. (BB)

Analyzed data from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to determine whether impact of adolescent childbearing on women's subsequent contact with welfare system differed for Black women and White women (n=1,894). Results supported hypothesized patterns of association between early birth, educational attainment, years spent as single parent, years…

A survey of 8,383 full- and part-time faculty was conducted by the U.S. Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics. Attitudes about work, workload, allocation of workload and earned income were examined. The new information, combined with the Carnegie survey, suggests an improvement in the conditions of the faculty. (MLW)

Continuing surveillance of drug use among American Indian adolescents living on reservations shows them to have rates of use higher than those of their non-Indian counterparts. Marijuana use is particularly high. By the seventh grade, a significant number of youth have tried drugs. Few significant gender differences exist. (Author/BJV)

Surveyed elderly persons (N=l,224) aged 60+ to determine social network ties and awareness of available services. Found following factors predictive of service awareness: having nonkin advisors; club membership; other community agency contacts; and availability of transportation, education, and moderate-sized kin networks. Found following…

The effects of number of score groups and inclusion/exclusion of the studied item were examined in an empirical evaluation of the Mantel-Haenszel technique (MHT), using 3,795 elementary school students who took the SRA vocabulary test. Inclusion of four or more score groups yielded stable alpha estimates with the MHT. (SLD)

The Mantel-Haenszel approach for investigating differential item functioning (DIF) was applied to United States history items within the 1986 National Assessment of Educational Progress administered to 7,812 11th graders. DIF analyses were based on responses of 7,743 11th graders. Results concerning sex and racial differences and ethnicity are…