Spurred by a national dropout rate of 25 percent, educators are examining causes of leaving school early, identifying high risk students, and devising student retention programs. This paper profiles the potential dropout, describes 10 characteristics of effective student retention programs, and describes three exemplary programs in Colorado,…

The study described in this report had a threefold purpose: (1) to examine, over time, the development of young adults who, when in the first grade in a midwestern school system, were in the lower third of their classes; (2) to examine the effect of literacy on their educational attainment, occupational level, and achievement; and (3) to examine…

As part of its program for 1981-83, Unesco convened a study group meeting on new forms of early childhood education. Participants from Afghanistan, China, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as well as observers from India, UNICEF, and UNHCR, met to share experiences regarding programs for children from disadvantaged environments and to…

Institutional bonding was examined at a public, urban commuter college with exceptionally high attrition and visibly low morale. Changes in bonding and attrition were measured 6 years after a 2-year effort to develop school identity and student feelings of membership. It was found that a simple index of campus morale is provided by level of…

A study examined the interplay among the initial family context of noncollege-bound youth, their entry into the full-time adult labor force, and formation of their families. The social psychological literature suggested that parents and other family members played an important role in teaching youth about the value of work, provided them with many…

Why is it that fewer girls than boys enter and stay in school? What may be done to further increase the school enrollment of girls in developing countries? The answers to these questions constitute the central focus of this paper. It first documents sex differences in primary school participation and wastage rates in developing countries.…

To determine whether social forces have changed the attitudes of rural women or whether the cohesiveness of the rural family unit produces such strong attitudinal transference that attitudes do not change, researchers studied the attitudes of three generations of women in Dawes County, Nebraska. The study was distinctive because it covered more…

Economic, legal, and socialization structures have emerged in response to the demands of the U.S. economic system and those whose job it is to protect and promote the interests of the current dominating classes and structures in our society. These structures contribute to the socially dysfunctional behavior of groups who are inadequately prepared…

Drawing on a cross-national study of children's reading, a study examined the correlates of reading success and failure in Taiwan. Subjects, 240 randomly selected Taipei fifth graders, were administered a reading test, cognitive test, and mathematics achievement test. A structured interview with each child's mother and classroom behavior…

Noting recent research showing the considerable benefit in having carefully structured systems for parental involvement in reading, this book presents a review of past and current successful practices in this field. The chapters in the first part of the book discuss the context of international trends in parents' involvement in their children's…

A human-ecological dimension is needed to safeguard the development of children. This "child ecology" will protect children against alienating forces of modern civilization caused by rapid social, cultural, and technical changes. The human-ecological dimension is a contribution toward regaining an overall framework for human…

In 1977, 8th and 12th grade students (n=889) from largely rural schools in 3 Idaho counties were surveyed as representive of both early and late stages of the teenage period to determine levels and patterns of liquor consumption. Respondents categorized themselves as nondrinkers (NDs), seldom drinkers (SDs), occasional drinkers (ODs), and frequent…

In this document data from a previous study is examined for indications of the relationship between ethnicity, home environment, and achievement. A search of the literature was conducted to identify parental response items and instruments useful for studying achievement. The three groups in the study (black, Caucasian and Mexican American) were…

Richard Rodriguez's "Hunger of Memory," which describes his journey from a bilingual, socially disadvantaged child, the son of Mexican immigrant working class parents, to Doctor of English literature, university professor and author, is examined to provide a deeper understanding of what makes the assimilation process happen, what it…

Interviews with 48 primary and secondary teachers in New Zealand provided comparisons of the career patterns of male and female teachers. The respondents taught at urban and rural schools and had a variety of status levels, from assistant teacher to principal. Respondents' ages ranged from under 25 to 55 years. The interviews were informal and…