Community/parental involvement can help two basic educational goals in the urban areas: (1) extending to every child improved educational opportunities by means of bettering the adult-child ratio within schools; and (2) increasing the two-way communication and ties between the schools and the lay citizens of the home. (Author)

Sponsored by Rural Action, an Ohio multicounty community development corporation, artist Geoff Schenkel involves Appalachian Ohio communities and schools in the creation of community murals. The projects counter Appalachian stereotypes and boost self-esteem and community revitalization. Includes photographs. (SAS)

Provides a review of issues involved in interactions between community colleges and their communities, discussing community-based education and services, strategic planning, and community-based programming. Presents examples of current college-community collaborations to illustrate civic accountability. Suggests that these collaborations place…

Debunks common myths about rurality and rural Australia. Calls for a change in perspective, putting person and place at the center of learning. Local involvement is key to the proposed Centre for Rural Communities, which would promote community sustainability through networking and training. Describes the Rural Women's Programme in Victoria and a…

Describes how a citizen's advisory committee in Arlington County, Virginia formulated criteria that the school board could use in recruiting and appointing a new superintendent. The final recommendations focused on two categories of superintendent attributes--educational leadership and personal qualifications. (LMI)

Charles C. Haynes, religious liberty scholar and leader in the "common ground" movement, explains what guidelines schools should follow to observe the December holidays. Christmas will remain a point of contention, unless communities think about and devise rich ways to treat religious holidays, both academically and otherwise. There is…

Describes the process of selecting judges for a Blue Ribbon Art Show (Springfield, Missouri). Used adults (teachers, custodians, professional artists, parents, and principals) chosen by the Willard South Elementary School art teacher to judge student artwork. States that nominated students received blue ribbons. (CMK)

This collection of seven articles focuses on playgrounds, looking at such issues as the importance of play in child development, playground injuries and safety (including international playground safety), community playground improvement projects, and shock-absorbing playground surfaces. (SM)

Proposes "democratic work stations" as central hubs of activity within a community where human rights workers share information and resources with community leaders from all sectors and offers some examples of this type of collaboration in action. Suggestions for creating these work stations are outlined. (SLD)

In Manteo, North Carolina, community involvement in planning and design phases of community revitalization led to recognition of the town's "sacred structure"--highly valued places essential to social processes, lifestyle, and sense of place. Identification and preservation of these places allowed community development without negative…

Based on the 1989 presidential address to the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), the article discusses the role that social studies education plays in developing citizenship skills. States that society cannot leave to chance the promotion of citizenship in successive generations. Calls for the NCSS members to unite their efforts to…

Comparison of two groups of parents of children with severe disabilities found that the group receiving intensive intervention (including stress management and parenting skills training, support groups, and community-based respite care) showed less anxiety and depression, with large treatment effects observed for both fathers and mothers.…

This article summarizes methods and findings from a community diagnosis designed to identify cognitive, affective, and cultural variables that seem to be associated with teen pregnancy. On the basis of information collected, critical elements for an intervention strategy are proposed. (IAH)

Proposes that the Barrow Alcohol Study be viewed as a learning experience demonstrating paternalism of researchers toward weaknesses of Alaska Natives. Stresses the importance of meaningful community involvement in all phases of a research project. Suggests that today the researcher-community relationship is becoming less exploitive and more…

Describes various events and activities during Pine City, Minnesota's, "I Love to Read Month," which focused on a "Reading Railroad" theme. Lists 12 stories and 16 poems about trains that were used for oral presentations. (MM)