Argues that the "social capital" provided to schools by parent and community involvement has been eroded in rural areas by school consolidation, centralization, and urban models, placing all rural students at risk. Traces this erosion in one rural West Virginia school district. Contains 19 references. (SV)

Proposes that teachers and principals play key roles in helping parents learn to foster their children's literacy. Provides suggestions that teachers and principals can use to help parents help their children at home. (BB)

Describes the development and implementation of EL Paso Community College's model Intergenerational Literacy Project, which brings Spanish-speaking parents and their children together in the classroom in an effort to improve the two groups' literacy skills in English and Spanish. (BB)

Describes how an elementary classroom teacher discovers and explores the power of aesthetic experience in an educational context. Discusses how the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh helps an exceptionally difficult class of 11-year-old female students in suburban Dublin, Ireland, become interested in their education. (KM)

The turn-allocation procedure for whole-group lessons is analyzed and compared for third grade classrooms in North America and Puerto Rico. Significant differences in classroom participation and discourse have roots in differing social interaction patterns in the two cultures and have implications for Puerto Rican students in mainland classrooms.…

Reports how the prolonged 1978 Levittown (New York) teachers strike initially depleted resources and created problems but proved to be the impetus for development of an effective school system. Reviews sources of conflict that led to the strike, reactions of community and teachers, and reforms focused on teacher empowerment. (FMW)

Investigated attention-to-task and its relation to instructional context among 24 mainstreamed children with learning disabilities. Observation of students in regular class and resource room revealed significant differences in rate of engagement for classroom setting, type of instruction, and level of peer involvement, indicating that degree of…

Offers alternatives to conventional modes of instruction by making practical applications of collaborative learning theory. Describes strategies to de-center the classroom by journaling, workshopping, and linking reading with writing. Suggests that with this approach students exhibit less writing apprehension, increased fluency, as well as changed…

Stresses the importance of reading aloud to children. Notes several keys to the success of reading aloud. Shares success stories from several reading aloud programs. Answers potential objections, from skeptical parents, to reading aloud. (MG)

Redefines citizenship for a strong democracy. Notes that action-oriented citizens have a wide range of tasks such as debate and deliberation on policy, and formulating agenda. Contends that in order to effectively participate in the public realm and to take public action, citizens must learn how to engage in political or public talk. (SLM)

Discusses Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral education through the structure of the just community. Evaluates experimental programs designed to implement this theory. Indicates that these programs establish cultures conducive to the development of socio-moral reasoning and action. Suggests ways to use these programs in the traditional school…

Describes the National History Day Program which was instituted to give secondary students a chance to display their research and analytic skills in the field of history for which they could receive awards or scholarships. Explains the process for participating. (KO)

Describes a project which pairs Ottawa, Canada, high school students with local nursing home residents in an effort to enhance students' development and increase their awareness of the world. Concludes that the experience is rewarding as students perform a valuable service, learn responsibility, and make friends in the community. (GEA)

Factors influencing 834 Swedish men to participate in organized adult education programs on a life-long basis were studied. Indicators of social origins, cognitive ability, formal youth education, occupational status, job satisfaction, and attitudes toward education collectively explained little of the variation in participation. Factors possibly…

Civic education is presented as a rationale for public support of intergenerational programing. In contrast to conventional justifications emphasizing life satisfaction and attitude change, this approach centers on citizenship and contribution to vital social issues. Models involving inner-city schools, public education, oral history, and urban…