Communication is most effective between people who have similar beliefs and values. Thus, black principals are more effective in black schools. Black and white principals lead differently; black principals place a higher priority on community involvement than do whites. In black communities this is a key ingredient in improving academic…

Ethnographers have not adequately studied societal determinants of poverty. This article demonstrates the utility of using systems theory to assess interactions between local organizations, national bureaucracies, and corporations. Numerous futile attempts of some the poor and working class Bostonians to halt gentrification show how…

Describes the Ikaiyurluki Mikelnguut (Helping Our Children) project in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta of Alaska where trained natural helpers are helping Yup'ik Eskimo villagers to cope with crisis situations--notably teenage suicide and drug and alcohol abuse. (Author/BB)

This article describes two employment and training programs for older people funded by the government of the United States and carried out by a variety of agencies: the Senior Community Services Employment Program and the Job Training Partnership Act. The examples demonstrate the ability of older adults to learn new skills and perform new jobs.…

Community activities of Black, former student activists, and nonactivists who attended college during the 1960s were investigated in a longitudinal study conducted in 1969 and 1978. Community involvement among both groups was similar. Although the sample size is small, this is the only study where the data was obtained while subjects were still…

Emphasizes the ineffectiveness of American schools to teach proper expanded citizenship education while recognizing that multiple factors (peers, parents, church, school, etc.) can and do play roles in civic socialization. Concludes with eight promotional elements and implications for the role of the school and society. (TRS)

Administrators and teachers were interviewed and civic meetings, sports events, and school activities were observed to determine the supervisory problems and opportunities unique to small districts and schools. Impeding factors were found to be political influences and sports emphasis, while facilitating factors included faculty closeness,…

Describes the developmental history and program orientation of the North West Civic Trust, a voluntary non-political organization that is committed to the protection and enhancement of the environment. Lists the five basic aims and objectives of the organization and explains its specific project involvements. (ML)

Describes the origins, grievances, and strategies of the educational excellence movement that Ron Edmonds helped to catalyze. Sees the movement as decentralized, led by lay people and concerned with higher standards for all. Argues that the movement is fueled by public discontent of the past two decades. (RDN)

This article reviews the major features of the "Seat Belts Pay Off" campaign and its evaluation and considers both theoretical and pragmatic issues pertinent to replicating the program in other community settings. (CT)

Analyzes the notion of community participation in urban education, and argues against critics who hold it is merely "symbolic." Asserts that, from the perspective of a phenomenological approach grounded in an analysis of the school's hegemonic role, community participation can be seen as an emancipatory activity. (Author/KH)

The application of an educational planning model designed for involving a representative sample of school patrons in decision making is described with reference to the case of Gilbert, Arizona. The article focuses on the first of the model's three phases: prioritizing goals, curriculum development, and program design and evaluation. (MJL)

Recommendations for increasing participation of functionally illiterate adults in community education programs include decentralization of educational sites, availability of transportation and child care, and instruction stressing functional literacy and teaching reading and computation as tools for solving students' personal and social problems.…

The family life education program implemented by San Diego State University consisted of a statewide advisory committee, a study of teaching and training practices, training for community involvement, and preservice education classes. Findings and details of methodology are explained. (DF)

School personnel in California were surveyed about family life education efforts. Although such programs exist in many districts, less than one-fourth of the ninth and one-third of the tenth graders received instruction. Recommendations for implementing, improving, and evaluating family life education programs are offered. (Author/DF)