A study examined migrant farmworkers' perceptions regarding their early schooling, the significance of education, family support for learning, and their participation in adult basic education programs. Suggests that adult basic education programs should address the totality of needs that migrant learners bring to the educational setting. Overviews…

Explores the structures and assumptions underlying changing conceptions of good schools. Three separate models of good schools (real estate, accrediting agency, and value-added) are examined to provide insight into the fate of urban education, the wisdom of national assessment, and the crisis in U.S. education. (SLD)

In both France and England, students scored in the middle-to-high ranks on the International Assessment of Educational Progress, with large gaps between low and high achievers. Despite attempts to democratize education, educational achievement in both countries continues to be strongly linked to parents' social background, with limited access to…

Psychological and behavioral characteristics of poor performing students and research-based strategies are presented as a starting point for educators making improvements to benefit the at-risk low achiever. Metacognitive strategies and refocusing student failure attribution to lack of effort rather than lack of ability are among effective…

Surveys 116 urban school principals to determine their viewpoints on the academic needs of high-risk students. Results reveal five critical areas where improvement is considered essential. A common theme is that more attention should be given to affective resources, including counseling, transitional programs, and alternative classroom structures.…

Contrasts the author's experience as a public school student in Nigeria with his experiences in a public high school in a suburb of Washington (DC). In spite of poor funding, institutional bias, and cultural differences, the student believes that his Nigerian education was superior in atmosphere conducive to academic achievement. (SLD)

An epistemological questionnaire assessing student beliefs about simple knowledge, certain knowledge, quick learning, and fixed ability to learn was administered to more than 1,000 high school students. Results demonstrate some epistemological development during high school and suggest that epistemological beliefs predict grade point average. (SLD)

Provides descriptive information about and reactions of 110 high school students to peer groups in urban high schools serving predominantly African-American students. Schools can encourage positive attitudes toward students who are academically inclined. Schools need a more comprehensive understanding of peer groups to minimize the influence of…

Maintains that many issues and questions concerning the relationship between Asian values and education have never been addressed in a comprehensive and systematic manner. Outlines four broad areas of inquiry: origins of culture, savings/investment effect, quality effect, and stability effect. Includes statistical information on education and…

Summarizes the most important economic factors that have had an impact upon kindergartens in Kazakhstan in recent years. Provides city-specific data detailing the effects of the collapse of communism and the rise of market-oriented economic reform on kindergarten closures. Discusses policy responses to declining enrollments and school closures.…

This article examines Swedish efforts to evaluate foreign-language achievement in compulsory (elementary and early secondary) schools. Evaluations conducted in 1989 and 1992 found that goal achievement in English-as-a-Second-Language instruction is largely in line with prescribed curriculum objectives. Contains 27 references. (MDM)

A total of 318 grade-5 pupils in Swedish schools were questioned in regard to why English is a compulsory subject. Two hundred and one pupils thought that English is compulsory because it is a world language, 94 thought so because it is useful, and 23 thought so because some authority decided so. Contains 22 references. (MDM)

Although there are similarities between college counselors' roles in stateside and American-sponsored overseas schools (A/OS) affiliated with the Department of State, several factors peculiar to the overseas environment influence the counselor's role: professional isolation; greater student cultural diversity; dissimilar host-country values and…

Survey of 1,002 elementary and secondary school teachers from 5 Canadian urban school districts revealed that teachers' negative responses to antiracist education were based on commitment to traditional pedagogic concerns and on conservative views regarding politics, race, and antiracism. Despite expressed support, implementation of antiracist…

A survey of 221 students graduating from the teacher education program at the University of Manitoba (Canada) reveals student attitudes regarding equity, diversity, and multiculturalism in Canada and the roles and responsibilities of public schools in a multicultural society. Conflicting student responses suggest the need for a more detailed…