As more and more children are being separated from their biological parents because of AIDS, substance abuse, mental and physical illness, incarceration, and child abuse and neglect, child welfare agencies are relying more often on kinship care as a viable option for out-of-home placements. In many cases, kinship care falls on the grandparents.…

To date, the focus of sex education research has tended to be on the effect of education on behavioral outcomes. There is little data on the felt needs of young people, how well they are met, and how provision might be improved. Here we report on main source of information about sexual matters, adequacy of knowledge, further needs, and preferred…

Based on survey data and written for educators and parents, this book examines the role of war play in early childhood education settings, its potential negative effects, and what educators might do to limit these effects. This examination is offered from both a developmental and a sociopolitical view. Four approaches to solving potential problems…

A study examined parent and family centers in schools. A survey was sent to 31 schools in the League of Schools Reaching Out that indicated the presence of a parent and family center. Data from the 28 schools responding to the survey yielded 8 dimensions on the functions of the centers: (1) definitions; (2) initiation; (3) names; (4) physical…

The author discusses the value of seven kinds of student visitations: scheduled visits, requested visits; unannounced visits; a learning experience for the instructor visit, public relations visits; booster visits, and the welcome or hardship visit. (BP)

The paper identifies some of the needs of parents of retarded children and proposes that school psychologists can promote more effective parent-school relationships. Two case studies illustrate family concerns with moderately retarded adolescents and describe interventions to provide immediate, short term solutions. The central function of the…

THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL BACKGROUND ON EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT WAS STUDIED. LARGE REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES OF THE POPULATION WERE SELECTED. INFORMATION ON THE VARIABLES WAS OBTAINED FROM SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE BUREAU OF CENSUS. THE SURVEYS QUERIED ADULT MALES AND TEEN-AGE BOYS LIVING AT HOME WITH PARENTS. DATA WERE ALSO DRAWN FROM PUBLICATIONS.…

A brief review of educational history in America leads up to a Bicentennial reflection that the task of educators is to release children's intellectual capacity through language, creativity, and democratic living. (MM)

A case study of a behavior disordered 11-year-old illustrates the need for school counseling personnel to consider not only the child's psychoeducational and mental health needs but also relationship patterns within and between family and school. A series of strategies are offered to show how dysfunctional patterns can be broken. (Author/DB)

This article elucidates some causes of homelessness and describes living conditions in shelters and welfare hotels. Recommendations are offered to the school-based support team, in cooperation with teachers, to help ease the child's transition from hotel to school and initiate preventative health measures. (Author/BN)

Argues that an infrastructure must be built that involves parents in all aspects of their children's schooling. Key aspects of this infrastructure are (1) promoting parents as educators, (2) training teachers to cooperate with families, (3) promoting cooperation among families, (4) involving the larger community, and (5) presenting family learning…

Notes that when a family is compulsorily referred by school for therapy, treatment failure can ensue if therapist ignores probability of family-school conflict and focuses prematurely on family dynamics. Presents alternative approach to such cases, based on questioning the "function of the symptom" notion, acknowledging parents' predicament, and…

The link that homework provides between school and community can become more productive if teachers and administrators ensure that the school homework is clear, meaningful, varied, and regularly assigned. (Author/TE)

The family can provide learning experiences and become the center of a child's education, rather than leaving all responsibility to the school. Home experiences should include activities that foster curiosity, exploration, inquiry, and discovery. Suggested in-home experiences are offered for family use. (DF)

States the need for elementary school guidance programs in Tennessee. Discusses three aspects of guidance programs: proposed features (preventive counseling, home-school relationships, parent involvement), facilitators, and goals (guidance integration in the total school program). (SB)