It is apparent that some children in the United States have not benefited from the improved oral health care available. These children tend to be poor and members of racial and ethnic minority groups. Policy recommendations are made to increase both self-care and access to dental care. (SLD)

The theory and practice of A. Meshcheryakov on the education of blind-deaf children are reviewed. His work, based on a theory of mind rooted in the concept of human activity, is presently out of favor in the Soviet Union, but deserves further study. (SLD)

Links between family structure and the changing poverty of 231,996 U.S. children are examined using child records from 1960, 1970, and 1980 Public Use Microdata samples and the 1988 March Current Population Survey. Results suggest that child poverty and racial inequality cannot be separated from changing family structure. (SLD)

Kozol's books examine how public schools perpetuate racial injustice, noting ethical abdication by the affluent in violation of children's innocence and capability by urban schools. Schools fail children by deforming the spirit of the poor and soothing the conscience of the rich. Kozol demands greater resources for poor students. (SM)

Provides a historical unfolding and account of cultural pluralism as an approach to student acculturation in the education of diverse urban populations. Traces the origins of a shift away from the "melting pot" notions and the emergence of multicultural ideas. (JB)

Nineteen people (ages 11-21) with profound mental retardation and multiple handicaps were given visual stimulation in a blacklight environment. Results indicated that students performed better under conditions of blacklight than normal light for tracking and reaching, as the blacklight removed distracting stimuli and exaggerated critical features.…

Introduces background issues regarding the education of homeless children in urban areas, focusing on problems of definition and identification and sociological factors related to homelessness. An overview is provided of the articles of the special issue. The challenges are how to meet the needs of an amorphous and troubled population. (SLD)

Presents the case study of a transitional school for homeless children that specifically targets their educational needs through an interagency attempt to serve poor families and children in an inner-city setting in Charlotte (North Carolina). Findings and recommendations based on this interagency approach are discussed. (SLD)

Service fragmentation is a major problem in children's services. The articles of this special issue focus on school-linked integrated services. Issues to be explored in promoting such services are those of (1) funding; (2) space; (3) confidentiality; (4) staff training; and (5) governance. (SLD)

Measures of preschool cognition and indicators of family socioeconomic status predicted school enrollment for children in four Guatemalan villages. For children who went to school, socioeconomic status and preschool abilities were associated with age-at-entry, and with the number of grades passed and the maximum grade attained through age seven.…

A study investigated developmental differences in children's self-perceptions of masculinity and femininity among 251 girls and 266 boys from grades 2 through 7. Meaningful developmental changes occur during the middle childhood period. Single summary scores ignore variations in gender-typed subtrait and raise study methodology questions. (JB)

Presents an interview with the founder and director of the Riley School in Maine in which she discusses the school's educational philosophy and practices, curriculum design, and physical plant design. (BB)

Describes 17 family education programs considered innovative and promising. The programs selected target low-income families with children between three and eight and are linked with public schools. All of them work with parents to enhance children's cognitive development and academic achievement. Summarizes methods used in recruitment, staffing,…

Reports a study which looked for measurable differences between the vocabulary achievement scores of remedial reading elementary students (mostly Hispanic) taught with teacher instruction and those taught with computer assisted instruction (CAI). Although the differences were not statistically significant, consistent improvement was measured for…

Maintains that the dimension of quality, and the dimensions related to equality, including teacher salary, types of services rendered to children, continuity, and integrity, need to be considered by those who are formulating and implementing policy changes in the field of early childhood care and education. (BB)