Presents concerns of a middle school teacher regarding the possibility that programs designed to enhance teachers' cultural sensitivity might inadvertently serve to emphasize the differences between white teachers and their students of color. Relates how her students dealt with the use of racial epithets by other students. (NH)

The Akwesasne Freedom School, on the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation (New York and Canada), is an independent immersion school that preserves not only the Mohawk language but also socialization patterns, styles of interpersonal relations, ethical principles, and aesthetic sensibilities. The curriculum is based on the Iroquoian Thanksgiving Address,…

Discusses the role library media specialists can play in promoting community-school interaction through use of the media. Highlights include newspapers; television and radio; electronic media, including Web sites and electronic publishing; newsletters; journals and magazines; conferences and workshops; and honors and awards. (LRW)

The Memphis Maps program, a collaborative effort of Memphis (Tennessee) educational institutions, public agencies, a bank, and community programs, trains local students in Geographic Information Systems technology and provides the community with valuable demographic and assessment information. The program is described, and factors contributing to…

Describes five school crises. In each case example, errors in crisis management by school staff exacerbated the crisis and resulted in deleterious consequences for the school, its students, and the surrounding community. Identifies common themes of leadership, teamwork, and responsibility that are critical to successful crisis management.…

Discusses ways that schools can evolve to support new teaching and learning paradigms into the new millennium. Argues that 21st-century schools will be smaller, cheaper, and more efficient; simply constructed; revenue generators that are privately financed; integrated with social, governmental, and business entities; will provide multiple,…

Evaluation of year-round education (YRE) in a rural North Carolina school district found disruption to "sense of community;" positive attitudes among participating teachers, students, and parents (primarily based on personal scheduling preferences); but no advantages in attendance or achievement. Results suggest that decisions to use YRE…

Interviews with adult residents and high school students in two rural Kansas communities that had consolidated their high schools found that adults in the community that lost its high school had more negative reactions and feelings of loss than adults in the community that retained its high school. Student reactions were generally positive.…

States that tribal colleges are not Ivory Towers standing above and beyond their communities. American Indians have higher rates of poverty, unemployment, sickness, mortality than others in the United States. Tribal colleges must provide health services, childcare and other community services as well as education to meet the needs of their…

A teacher recalls how the first years of Foxfire coincided with her first years of teaching Kiowa students in Oklahoma. A curriculum derived from the region, inspired by ideas that became known as the Foxfire core practices, and delivered via small group work and facilitative teaching, generated student interest, innumerable activities,…

Consistent with their name and mission, rural community colleges should be committed to building community. This can be accomplished through comprehensive curricula; extracurricular events; community education programs; continuing education; partnering with businesses and schools to encourage local youth to prepare for college; service learning;…

This paper argues that the current interest in service learning provides universities with a unique opportunity to engage their students in community service, expand their educational agenda, and build reciprocal partnerships with the community. Specific activities for implementation of such a program are delineated for the four constituencies of…

Examined the quality of care provided to children from low-income families, using data from a nationally representative survey of child care centers and a five-site observational study of centers. Found that the quality of care in centers serving predominantly low-income families was better than centers serving middle-income families. (MDM)

Discusses the prevalence and power of rituals in school settings, focusing on the potential of rituals to instruct through cognitive and affective channels simultaneously. Notes the positive benefits of rituals such as fairness, cooperation, and respect for others. Describes the three stages of ritual: separation, transition, and incorporation.…

Interviews with 20 Punjabi Sikh teachers (mostly immigrants) in British Columbia found that they played a wide variety of roles in the education system. They served as bridges between the Punjabi Sikh community and the schools; acted as translators, cultural informants, and role models; and were committed to influencing parental attitudes toward…