Describes the efforts of teachers and parents to open a charter school in Denver, which is being vigorously blocked by the school board. Discusses the pros (offer nontraditional teaching methods and institutional autonomy) and cons (drain public funds from poor schools) of charter schools. (LMI)

Examines questions on establishing a valid education for impoverished black students and offers suggestions to assist in correcting this group's disenchantment with the public schools. Questions concern teacher education for poor black students, how teachers can encourage poor black students to learn, and how teachers can identify gifted minority…

Addresses difficulties identifying gifted rural children who are economically disadvantaged and who do not exhibit traditional characteristics of gifted behavior. Suggests that individual assessment be both comprehensive and culturally specific, that curriculum interventions use the resources of rural communities, and that computer technology and…

Reexamines family structure's influences on standardized test scores of first- and second-grade children with respect to family resources. Found that two parents in the home and family resources did not affect growth in standardized achievement during school sessions. Family resources did influence achievement when school was out. (RJM)

Describes the National Drug Control Strategy's nine-pronged approach in addressing drug abuse, which includes the formation of partnerships between federal, state, and local governments and the private and public sectors. The strategy includes prevention initiatives, individualized treatment programs for high-risk groups, education aimed at…

Studies firearms behaviors among 835 criminally active male, mostly urban, youth and 1,653 male and female innercity high school students in 4 states. It is evident that the large urban environment encourages youth to be armed and that enforcement activities alone will not be enough to alleviate the problem. (SLD)

Presents the results of a study of how minorities participate in and rework the central myths of the dominant culture. The responses of 20 Anglo White males versus 20 American Indian males to a western film showed that the meaning imputed to cultural works varies over social space. (JB)

Case histories from the Berkeley Guidance cohort--the Depression experience of middle and working class women and the military experience of their sons--demonstrated that (1) economic adversity enhanced middle class resilience and health while negatively affecting working class women's health and (2) military service gave men of deprived…

Describes a partnership between the Erikson Institute and four Chicago public schools that was intended to enhance the effectiveness of urban education of low-income prekindergartners through third graders by means of classes that reflected the principles of developmentally appropriate practice. Discusses results of the project and the…

Explores the situations of the following immigrant groups in Canada: (1) Caribbean Blacks; (2) East Indians; and (3) Filipinos. The combined contributions of these groups to Canada's work force and Canada's economic, sociological, educational, multicultural, and spiritual development are incalculable, yet these minorities face discrimination and…

The "Thinking Actively in a Social Context" (TASC) project, currently underway with African-American high school pupils and teachers in KwaZulu/Natal schools (South Africa), stresses the systematic development of thinking and problem-solving skills. The program has been very successful with relatively high achieving students but requires…

This study examined beliefs and practices of Kentucky's Chapter 1 reading teachers (n=1,279) in light of requirements of the Hawkins-Stafford Amendments requiring instruction in advanced skills in Chapter 1 programs. Most teachers' practices did not match their beliefs; those whose beliefs and practices were consistent with an advanced skills…

Describes the migrant lifestyle and its effect on migrant children and their education. Addresses what preservice teachers should know about migrant families, including the availability of school funds for recruitment of migrant students, the resources of the Migrant Student Record Transfer System, and the importance of improving the educational…

Examines reasons for high representation of women and factors influencing their persistence in Kenya's literacy programs. Considers the limited formal learning opportunities available, economic demands, women's multiple social roles, inadequate learning environments, unqualified literacy teachers, and the impact of a male-centered society.…

Two student teachers, one completing her practicum in a rural culturally nondiverse setting and the other in an urban culturally diverse setting, expressed similar concerns about students' impoverished environments, troublesome home lives including abuse and single-parent homes, and difficulties associated with teaching a diverse group of…