Medical student aid programs tied to a service commitment operate in 31 states. Various payback options are available, the most popular being cancellation of financial obligation through service. Although a major program objective is service in underserved areas, little incentive actually exists for service in low-income areas. (MSE)

Studied the effectiveness of the Vocational Exploration Group (VEG) in increasing the vocational maturity of economically disadvantaged Black students. Found VEG participants improved significantly and were more able to appraise their job-related capabilities. They were also more knowledgeable about the world of work. (Author/JAC)

Contrasts the arguments of economists who measure the value of library services to society by business standards with the criteria of "the public good" which predominated during the development of public libraries and argues that libraries must continue to serve the whole community. Twenty references are cited. (RAA)

This study correlated socioeconomic status as measured by parents' education and material prosperity, with academic achievement and self-confidence scores in 2293 Ugandan students. Self confidence did not correlate to socioeconomic status, as it has been found to do in industrialized societies. Possible reasons for this difference are considered.…

Ohio's family life education program helps homemakers in economically depressed areas improve their homemaking and parenting skills, make the best use of their resources, and make their homes healthier, happier places. (LRA)

Males from rural economically deprived school districts, were surveyed a fourth and final time 10 years after high school graduation. Results show over the 10-year period the occupational and educational achievements and aspirations have been significantly higher for the high-identification with their father group than for the low-identification…

Discusses the factors contributing to the growing demand for lifelong learning and examines the disproportionately low participation rate of minority students in the lifelong learning process. Also discusses the need to create, from the elementary level on, self-directed students who are aware of their educational options. (JP)

The world of work constantly changes, and significant breakthroughs in productivity will most likely come from organizations that encourage and reward diversity through policies and programs that demonstrate a positive attitude toward change. (JOW)

This study by the National Advisory Council on Economic Opportunity show that, in the past decade, some groups have fared much better economically than others. First, the age distribution of those officially termed poor has shifted. Second, the reduction of overall poverty levels has been accompanied by increased sexual and racial inequality.…

Immunization records and frequency of checkups for urban and rural infants were investigated to determine differential patterns of preventive medical services use. Urban children scored highest in preventive care, rural children lowest. Conditions affecting scores included mother's educational level, type of medical service used, and child's place…

Reviews various youth employment programs and demonstration projects authorized by federal legislation. (MF)

Argues that reducing teacher certification standards and alternative certification practices harm student academic achievement, particularly in low-income areas, and that bold new experiments in teacher education are needed to enable teachers to cope with the demands of today's classrooms. Actions necessary to improve teacher education are…

Describes how the Carrollton School District (Georgia) mapped out a strategy to ensure it would be able to acquire new classroom technology and successfully integrate it into the curriculum. It explains how proper planning for technology in the classroom reduced dropout rates and increased academic success among all its students, particularly…

Presents taxonomy of hostility toward street children: (1) penal-instructive hostility based on punishing children for inappropriate behavior; (2) collective frustrated hostility based on ethnocentric social class attitudes toward the poor; and (3) cultural hostility, accounted for by differences attributed to sedentary and nomadic peripatetic…

Using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data, this study finds that education rates of return vary across racial/ethnic groups because of differing human capital investments made by families in each group. School quality also matters. Nearly the entire white/black earnings gap would disappear if black children had school and home…