Characterizes 90 percent of the native students in Canada's Northwest Territory as dropouts. Offers the Community Occupational Program as an alternative to secondary school graduation. Describes program goals and benefits. (ABB)

Because of the difficulty that recent graduates with advanced history degrees have finding employment, universities are implementing public history programs which educate historians for nontraditional jobs, e.g., careers with public service agencies or government. One such program, the Western Washington University Graduate Program in Archival and…

The status of external degree programs in traditional institutions is examined. Basing evaluation on the guidelines set forth by the Carnegie Commission for Non-Traditional Study (l973); it is suggested that external programs have not adequately been integrated into the academic mainstream. (Author/MLW)

Discusses the two Calgary Bearspaw Centres (separate classrooms staffed by a teacher-counselor and an attendance counselor) that have successfully provided an alternative to formal student suspension for inappropriate behavior since 1979. Describes referral, interview, and classroom procedures; types of students served; daily schedule; class…

Kurt Hahn valued the adventure ethic for the qualities of character it developed, but his particular concern was the development of personal and social responsibility and compassion. Samaritan service is the key element in institutions, such as the Round Square Conference Schools, founded or inspired by the mature Hahn. (JHZ)

Presents an overview of the Highlander Folk School, a nontraditional educational setting in which participants learned how to challenge the racial problems of the South (such as segregation, discrimination, and racism). Describes the school's role in preparing black leaders for the Civil Rights movement and in promoting the participation of white…

Reports on a study of the graduates of the Sudbury Valley School, a primary and secondary school that has no learning requirements but supports students' self-directed activities. The majority of graduates went on to good colleges and good jobs. Although this could reflect their middle-class backgrounds, their futures were clearly not harmed by…

The characteristics and educational needs of adult students, who now outnumber traditional college-age students, are described. Nontraditional baccalaureate degree programs, such as external degree programs, designed to accommodate adult needs, are discussed. Developments within the military and within academic institutions to promote programs for…

Surveys eight Philadelphia alternative schools which offer independent education emphasizing academic achievement, Black unity, and Pan-African values. Provides information on admissions, curriculum, philosophical orientation, and other facets of each school. (KH)

A national study surveyed (1) extent to which state and local programs serve the most in need, (2) less expensive nontraditional approaches to instruction, and (3) state regulations that act as barriers. Found that most of the efforts are in nontraditional settings, correspondence courses are successful and less costly alternative, and most…

Interdisciplinarity, problem-focused education, and experiential education must serve some larger goals and fit some larger framework or philosophy of education. Engaged education--with emphasis on relevance involvement, social problem-solving, and seen as opposed to traditional education--is discussed. (MLW)

Describes the individualized program of Mountain Open High School which at first coincidentally resembed Maurice Gibbons'"Walkabout" concept and was subsequently more consciously shaped by theory. Students move through three phases culminating in challenging independent projects of practical use. (MJL)

This model alternative program incorporates the elements of individualized instruction programs developed through diagnostic/prescriptive techniques, experimentation with innovative teaching practices, and an emphasis on students' use of community resources. In the last 2 years, no students have chosen the option of a "Walkabout"…

The operation of a "Walkabout" program at a large urban magnet school is reviewed. After frequent exposure to supervised community experiences in regular humanities courses students may undertake independent, semester-long Walkabout projects, usually career-oriented. (MJL)

Characteristics of adult college students enrolled in identical open learning formats offered through a consortium in six states were compared. The findings are presented by a general descriptive data of student characteristics at the various universities for course offerings and chi-square test results. (Author/MLW)