Reports the findings of a survey of school library media centers in eight large urban areas with large enrollments of Hispanic children that was conducted to determine the availability of Spanish language literature. Highlights include media specialists and support staff; holdings; budget; book selection process; and library events and activities.…

Contends that identity problems among adolescents are exacerbated by misinterpretations of the role education plays in the process of achieving personal autonomy. States these problems arise when means to autonomy become ends in themselves and when status is emphasized over character. Explores three stages of the process from freedom to…

The types of resilient behaviors that lead to school competence among African-American adolescents are those that build social identity and friends and social support networks. Specific recommendations are given to promote them in the school setting through parent involvement, cultural sensitivity, and small group learning. (SLD)

Social and governmental policies have attempted to improve the lives of children in poverty, but negative outcomes continue for African-American youth. Policy and programs for youth must be sensitive to developmental processes, racial and ethnic affiliation, and the environmental structures that put students at risk. (SLD)

This interview with Woodrow B. Grant, Chief of the Equal Opportunity Office of the Maryland State Department of Education, explores challenges in educating African Americans, beginning with issues of teacher qualifications, expectations, and preparation and retraining for cultural awareness. The problems of young African-American males are…

Using grades and standardized test scores as criteria variables, a survey determined relative effects of sociocultural variables, personality factors, and student perceptions of school and social events in explaining differential patterns of academic achievement for 89 Asian-American tenth graders. Findings are discussed in connection with the…

Reviews peer-led substance-abuse prevention programs for middle school youth to determine whether they are efficacious in minimizing substance use. A meta-analysis of 120 studies examined program features and effectiveness. Results indicated that interactive peer interventions for middle school students were statistically superior to…

Maine's gubernatorially appointed Commission on Secondary Education produced eight overarching observations and six core principles governing learning climate, teacher expectations, differentiated instruction, assessment, democratic engagement, and program coherency. This new vision challenges schools and communities to rethink how they assess,…

In contrast to persistent "culture of poverty" explanations, studies of seemingly irrational risk-taking behaviors among West Virginia adolescents found that early pregnancy and dropping out of school were related to lack of economic opportunity and decline of traditional community cultural patterns without acceptable alternatives.…

Examined the importance of students' academic performance levels and extracurricular activities as predictors of drug involvement relative to peer influence. Data were obtained from 2,229 randomly selected students in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades from school districts in northeastern Ohio. At all grade levels, involvement in extracurricular…

This article uses the case study method to examine the lives of three youths with disabilities living in the southern part of the United States who have followed a pathway to death row. An empirically established developmental and theoretical framework is used to examine issues related to the influence of disabilities and race on children and…

Anecdotal reports of the protective qualities of mentoring relationships for youth are corroborated by a growing body of research. What is missing, however, is research on the processes by which mentors influence developmental outcomes. In this article, we present a conceptual model of the mentoring process along with a delineation of some of the…

This research investigates the effects of extracurricular activities on alcohol use among male (n = 4,495) and female (n = 5,398) adolescents who participated in the 1990-92 National Education Longitudinal Study. Previous studies have assessed the association between extracurricular activities and alcohol use, but none have explored whether the…

Responses to Life Satisfaction Scale for Problem Youth (LSSPY) items were examined in a sample of 193 substance abusing and conduct disordered adolescents. In responding to the LSSPY, youth endorse their percentage of happiness (0 to 100%) in twelve domains (i.e., friendships, family, school, employment/work, fun activities, appearance, sex…

The adolescent peer group constitutes a vital component of the institutional culture of the contemporary secondary school. Formed among students and reinforced by administrators and teachers, it takes the form of a structured status hierarchy whose membership and boundaries are clearly understood within the school community. Individual students'…