Studied how positive the educational and social experiences were for vastly outnumbered and socially segregated minority students at a predominantly white university. Responses from 240 black and white students show that minority students are daily reminded, overtly and covertly, of their minority status. The alienation from campus life this…

Explores the background and context of the Australian federal government's new postcompulsory education and training policies. Examines the social, economic, and political context surrounding policy development and the "stitching together" of competing interests. The resulting policy directions, linking goals to equity issues, represent…

For many poor children in Latin America, successful adjustment to primary school is impeded by child, family, and school characteristics. Early intervention efforts have been moderately effective, but their initial effects are often overwhelmed by structural features of primary schools. A coherent, carefully supervised educational program with…

Reviews research on attitudes of citizens of industrialized nations toward the causes of poverty in developing nations. Reports on a study of 89 British adults and their attitudes toward poverty in the developing world. Finds attitudes of "Blame the Poor" that are consistent with previous research. (CFR)

Describes a study examining the perceptions of administrators, counselors, faculty, and underprepared students about the integration of underprepared students in an urban community college. Indicates that students unrealistically evaluate their academic integration and that college officials do not view academic and social integration in the same…

Describes Chile's "900 Schools Program," designed to raise achievement levels of poor 1st to 4th graders in reading, writing, and mathematics. Reviews key program efforts related to building improvements, textbooks and other learning resources, and workshops for teachers and students. Provides results from a 1990-91 assessment,…

Examines the effects of persistent economic hardship on children. Both black and white children who experienced persistent family economic hardship demonstrated problems in peer relations, showed conduct problems at school, and reported low self-esteem. Connections between persistent economic hardship and psychosocial adjustment were more…

Compares the relative plausibility of family processes and schooling opportunities as factors associated with sex and motherhood in poor communities. Suggests that young women who delayed onset of sexual activity, and who stayed at school even as teen mothers, had more positive perceptions of being students and of receiving family encouragement…

Reports that the debate over class size in schools has become more heated in recent years. Examines recent research and attempts to answer three questions regarding class size and academic achievement. Concludes that there is a link between the 2, but only in the early years and only with classes smaller than 20 students. (CFR)

Includes 14 reports on events, projects, and new publications on a variety of topics, including science and society; environmentally related indicators affecting human welfare; laboratory programs for European science journalists; programs for disadvantaged adolescents at science centers and youth museums; peer review in biomedical publication;…

"Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools" describes the contrasts between rich and poor schools located within a few miles of each other. The author, Jonathan Kozol, claims that contrasts are due to inequitable funding; he would abolish the property tax and replace it with equitable funding for every child deriving from a…

The national issue of school choice and the reduction and prevention of violence among youth are two issues that are critical for African-American educators, parents, youth, and education supporters. In addressing these problems, African-American educators must become role models of empowerment and advocacy for youth. (SLD)

Provides a psychotheological interpretation of rap music by African-American male artists and of its audience, examining the music and its social context. Common themes include despair over acute psychosocial and physical needs, intensity and violence as a means of personal integration, ontological insecurity, and desire for transformation and…

Discusses issues of equity, access, and retention for African Americans in higher education. African Americans continue to be underrepresented in higher level positions largely because they are underrepresented in higher education for economic and social reasons that an increasingly multiracial society may not be able to tolerate. (SLD)

Six articles provide an overview of the multiple approaches to evaluating the problems of homelessness and introduce the challenges of evaluating interventions for the homeless. The first part focuses on research about homelessness, and the second part describes major demonstration programs and their evaluations. (SLD)