The French immersion experience in Montreal, since its inception in 1965, is considered highly successful. Despite critics who note that its results fall short of perfect bilingualism, French immersion has achieved what it set out to accomplish: functional bilingual competencies. In doing so, French immersion has challenged many assumptions about…

This study examined cognitive processes and outcomes associated with student knowledge base development. Sixty-nine students from two grade 8 classes were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a knowledge base development (KBD) group, a problem-solving software group, and a control group. Those in the KBD group received relevant instruction…

This report, prepared from information collected from Colorado's public school districts for 64 counties, provides information about public school students grades K through 12. In fall 1991, there were 593,030 students in Colorado's public schools, representing a substantial increase for the second consecutive year, and surpassing the state's…

This paper describes a multi-faceted approach to improving student retention at an urban public university. It is noted that the students at this institution are older, working people; few live on campus and participate in what would be considered traditional student experiences. The paper examines the physical setting and external environment;…

The purpose of this study was to measure how learning disabled (LD) children perceive reading and libraries. No similar studies were found during the literature search undertaken for this project. Twenty-three fourth and fifth grade students identified as learning disabled by their school system were interviewed to collect information on their…

Western European forms of discourse have been foisted upon the world as the universal value-neutral reference point. External standards have been used to assess aboriginal discourse, particularly in public contexts such as schools and courtrooms. These standards assume that there is one single correct way to proceed (to talk, write, argue, teach),…

Documenting the 1991 fall session, this report provides resolutions adopted by the Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges. The resolutions are divided into the following 13 categories and topics: (1) the Academic Senate, including research, rules and procedures, and attendance at meetings; (2) accreditation, including self-study…

This paper discusses teaching with a multicultural perspective in early childhood education. It is emphasized that a major goal of multicultural education is to help children become accustomed to the idea that there are many lifestyles, languages, cultures, and points of view. Other topics include negative stereotypes and the influence that early…

This paper describes a study of the socioemotional functioning of middle-class male and female preschoolers who had experienced varying degrees of nonparental care during the infant/toddler period. A review of the literature revealed that previous research findings from child care programs were inconclusive about potential differential effects on…

This ERIC Digest reviews past and present rural educational philosophy, focusing on the views of Wendell Berry, a Kentucky farmer and novelist who in recent years has emerged as a leading American philosopher. The major difference underlying rural and urban living is the relationship of people with nature. Rural living is much more closely related…

A study was done to compare the success of undergraduate engineering schools in graduating minorities from their programs. The study developed the following three parameters that can be used to define the performance of engineering schools in graduating minorities: (1) graduation rates of minorities; (2) graduation rates of minorities relative to…

This study was intended to ascertain the effectiveness of videotape recordings on the achievement of ninth grade students in citizenship classes versus achievement of students where that medium was not used. Subjects for the quasi-experimental study were 183 ninth grade students in selected high school citizenship classes in a large suburban…

This report presents a survey of students 15 years or older who left Northern Territory (Australia) urban and Aboriginal secondary schools during 1989. Telephone surveys were conducted with participants and mail questionnaires were used when telephone contact was not possible. Of the 1,971 students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who left urban and…

The Education Division of Maryville University (Missouri) believes in preparing teachers for student diversity. It encourages teachers to be reflective practitioners and suggests that the quality of a teacher's reflections and actions depends on a developmental ability to integrate concrete teaching experiences, models and strategies of others,…

Teachers who have classes with many Southeast Asian American students face the dual challenge of their own lack of knowledge about the cultural backgrounds of their students and of the students' often fragmentary understandings of their own war-torn cultures. This overview briefly describes the history and culture of Indochina to provide knowledge…