Defining "community literacy" as literate acts that could yoke community action with intercultural education, strategic thinking and problem solving, and with observation-based research and theory building, this paper articulates this "generative and tension-filled" vision of community literacy. The paper begins by examining…

Goals 2000 was developed in the face of a barrage of criticism of the public schools by people with the best of intentions and with great hopes for the future of American education. The effects of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act cannot match its supporters' intentions and its implementation threatens to escalate conflict over schooling. Goals…

The years between childhood and adulthood are full of new experiences and new challenges. This guide is designed to help young people and adults participate in a study circle on youth issues. The study circles, which are small-group, democratic, peer-led discussions, offer a way for participants to work together as full partners in community…

Experiential education, and more specifically service-learning, connects students with a different kind of education. Moreover, service-learning provides the opportunity for students to listen to voices seldom heard in academia. Experiential learning and service-learning have taken on an important role in contemporary schooling and are being…

This book contains over 1,000 ideas for implementing inviting school practices. The book is based on the theory of invitational education, which is designed to create a total school environment that intentionally summons people to realize their potential in human activity. Five basic propositions characterize invitational education: (1) education…

Child rearing is a difficult task in the 1990s. Among U.S. youth today there exists an alarmingly high prevalence of learning, emotional/behavioral, or developmental problems, most of which can be directly traced to the disintegration of family stability. Yet, despite the difficulties of parenting, few people have actually been trained to be…

Arts Genesis, Inc. (AGI) forms partnerships with diverse communities to assist them in finding fulfillment through the arts by meeting their own self-defined needs; uses arts experiences to encourage discovery, creativity, and diversity; and continually strives for excellence in the arts and education. Arts Genesis grew out of "Project…

Developed for the America Reads Challenge Read*Write*Now! program, this tip sheet presents ideas and suggestions for strengthening efforts to help improve children's reading through community reading programs designed to keep children reading during the summer and after school. The tip sheet discusses building partnerships, recruiting volunteers,…

Volunteers are those who find that they have the ability to change at least one other person's life for the better. Public service programs can be established within the forensics medium. Such programs as "Kids on the Block," which uses puppetry to teach about individual differences, can benefit from forensics experience. Dramatic…

This paper presents an analysis of community and parental involvement in education. Sample programs and activities have been selected from the schools recognized as excellent by the Assistant Secretary for Educational Research and Improvement School Recognition Program. Numerous brief case studies highlight interesting and creative ways in which…

This project focuses on non-formal and adult education for women in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, India. The objectives of the project were: (1) to provide non-formal education to girls and adult education to women in a coordinated manner; (2) to raise civic and social awareness of women; (3) to decentralize planning and implementation of programs…

This booklet details the ways in which public education is a sound investment for this society and its members. Sections illustrate the ways in which education benefits society by: providing greater earning power; enriching the quality of life in communities; promoting equal opportunity; maintaining a free market economy; enhancing personal…

The model workshop described in this paper is intended to present the possibilities of organized self-advocacy for persons with mental retardation or other disabilities. Self-advocacy stresses dignity, respect, and making one's own choices. Information on planning a workshop covers length and size, date and time, speakers, location,…

West Windsor-Plainsboro High School (New Jersey) offers a tightly structured, diversified curriculum in a nontraditional open setting. The school curriculum focuses on teaching basic skills in reading, writing, science, math, and social studies; using a variety of instructional techniques; maintaining high faculty/administration commitment to…

Intended to aid teachers help students discover the concept of human beings interrelating and interdependent with their environment. A science activity used with sixth grade students involved in a functional recycling system for newspapers is described. The program grew into a community-wide project, incorporated with city council. (EB)