Reports on a study of students' preferences for social studies, English, and science courses among 888 secondary students. Finds that seventh graders preferred social studies over science, but this preference weakened substantially as students advanced into high school. Finds that boys preferred social studies over English throughout high school.…

Data from interviews with 475 parents of students (and 84 nonparent controls) at a multiracial-multiethnic high school were used to test hypotheses about communication between parents and their children's schools. Results suggest differences between parents and nonparents and between racial groups in their recognition and solution of problems and…

A nationally representative sample of middle school students from diverse backgrounds was surveyed on educational aspirations, planning, and achievements. Results indicated significant racial and gender differences in educational and vocational planning help-seeking behaviors and significant race and sex interaction in students' educational…

Discusses the role of religious education in the future planning and implementation of South Africa's education system. Reviews the role of religion before 1990, particularly the Dutch Reformed Church. Concludes that the future of religious education in South Africa depends on the future of religion. (CFR)

An ongoing longitudinal study of 699 adolescents and their parents, begun when the adolescents were ages 13 to 16, found that, although black families had more single-parent households and lower family incomes than white families, black adolescents had higher abstention rates and lower rates of alcohol abuse and other deviance than white…

Reports on a study of high school students' perceptions about the importance of academic and sociocultural factors to their participation in college level music and the relationship of these factors to the higher education recruitment process. Finds significant differences related to race, years of experience in a musical group, grade level, and…

Discusses implementation and evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) educational intervention for college student leaders in African-American, Latino, feminist, and gay and lesbian campus organizations. Describes participants and recruitment, intervention techniques, evaluation, and implications of…

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Growth and Health Study Research Group's 5-year cohort study provides basic information on the baseline cohort of 1,166 white and 1,213 African-American girls aged 9 through 10 years. Factors associated with development of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors are assessed. (SLD)

Describes a comparative study of self-perceived and grandchild-perceived strengths and educational needs of 204 African-American and 204 Anglo grandparents and 295 African-American and 175 Anglo grandchildren, examining how to adapt programs effective for Anglos so that they would be effective for African Americans. Recommendations are made for…

Effects of divorce on children are reviewed, acknowledging two contradictory trends. On one hand, it is increasingly recognized that the intact biological parent family offers many advantages. On the other hand, there is increasing acceptance that divorce can be better than having parents stay together for their children's sake. (SLD)

Presents a summary of nine research reports from a National Educational Computing Conference research workshop whose purpose was to bring together researchers who have been conducting gender-related research in computer science education. Three subgroups discussed the issues of exposure, attraction, and retention of women to computer science. (MDH)

Provides a national perspective on the prevalence and nature of interventions in grades 4 through 8 to increase participation of minority students and females in mathematics and science. In all, 163 programs responded to the request for information. The range and extent of these interventions are described. (SLD)

Data from nine representative U.S. population samples in the General Social Survey data file for 1974 through 1990 confirm systematic declines in verbal scores for cohorts born after World War II, with the trend beginning earlier. The importance of social change must be acknowledged in trend analysis. (SLD)

Race was more salient than sex when 93 white preschool children (46 males and 47 females) in a virtually all-white community characterized photographs of others, but sex and race were equally salient in self-classification. Consistency between cognitive and affective responses increased with subjects' ages from 3.0 to 5.7 years. (SLD)

Analysis of data from the management systems of San Francisco and Santa Clara counties (California) reveals ethnic differences among 26,708 public mental health service users. Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans used less emergency and inpatient, but more outpatient, care than whites. Blacks used more emergency and less outpatient care. (SLD)