A teacher's interviews with 20 former English-as-a-Second-Language (ESOL) students illustrates ways in which they have adapted to life in the United States and how they have improved, or failed to improve, their English. The subjects' stories are material for the teacher's current classes. (SLD)

Data from a Literacy Analysis Center longitudinal study indicate that less than 1 in 10 persons (sample of 84 program leavers) discontinue adult literacy programs because they have completed the program. Various situational and institutional causes of attrition are discussed, and recommendations are presented for reducing attrition. (SLD)

This article describes a preservice special education teacher education course at the University of Maryland which requires students to interact directly with parents of different social classes and cultural backgrounds. Three students recount their experiences and changed attitudes as a result of this requirement. (DB)

Explores the impact of gender diversity on school achievement, using data from an ethnographic study of academic success among 33 eleventh-grade students in a Washington (DC) high school. The normalized definition of femaleness juxtaposed with a dominating patriarchy propels African-American females to resist images that assert their nothingness.…

Describes study of eighth grade students that was designed to determine whether gender of the protagonist in mathematics story problems can play a significant role in mathematics learning. The use of the Secondary-School Attitudes toward Women Scale is described, and correlations among individual difference and task-outcome variables are analyzed.…

Reports findings of a Scottish study using questionnaires and interviews to investigate views of 387 college freshmen on course selection, specifically addressing low female enrollment in computing areas. Finds computing students motivated by extrinsic awards. Reveals stereotypes, intimidation fears, lack of role models, and teacher guidance…

The Japanese model of business management and Total Quality Management principles being applied to higher education as well as businesses are often ineffective because of the application of packaged ideas without consideration of the subtleties of individual organizations. The cowboy model of teamwork stresses the individual's role and better fits…

Describes a study that compared animated demonstrations, procedural textual instructions, and demonstrations combined with spoken procedural text to assess the effectiveness of animated demonstrations for users learning HyperCard. Results of accuracy, time on task, user responses, retention, and transfer are discussed; and future research is…

Reports on a study of cultural images of people in 5 nations by 24 10- to 13-year-old children of low socioeconomic backgrounds. Finds that 10-year olds focused on the thoughts and feelings of people whereas the 13-year olds included more knowledge abstracted to the country level. (CFR)

Describes the English-only effort in the Territory of Hawaii that typified the Americanization crusade that swept the United States during and after World War I. Asserts that, although the Americanizers focused on southern and eastern Europeans on the mainland, the focus on Japanese in Hawaii added overtones of racial and political discrimination.…

Rejects Kilemi Mwiria's contention that the primary goal of the educational system in colonial Kenya was to deliberately prepare Africans for subjugation and subordination. Contends that the British government did not have the funds to support expansion or improvement of the African educational system. (CFR)

Reports on a study of the attitudes of 542 students in grades 3-6 toward singing and choir participation in relation to grade level, gender, classroom singing activities, previous singing experience, and degree of singing skill. Finds that most subjects indicated a positive attitude toward singing, but less than half were interested in choral…

Five texts by Brian L. Fife (1992), Chester E. Finn and Theodor Rebarber (1992), John Godar (1990), Nathan Rutstein (1992), and Yael Sharan and Shlomo Sharan (1992) on cultural diversity and education reform emphasize the importance of cooperation, administrative decentralization, the need for critical thinking, values that provide common ground,…

Presents evidence on sex differences in rank advancement in academic careers, and considers the relative importance of quality and quantity of publications. Results for 556 male and 450 female biochemists show the importance of time in rank and number of publications and that rates of promotion are lower for women. (SLD)

After summarizing differences in teen childbearing by race, this article addresses problems inherent in a comparative approach to understanding race differences. More meaningful measures of socioeconomic status are outlined, and how the social context approach might inform the literature or the role of family factors in teen childbearing years is…