Examines the conflicting approaches, legal, medical, and educational, to the treatment of deprived and retarded children in the Netherlands around 1900. Although initially in competition, the educational and medical fields soon began a cooperative relationship defined by symbiotic philosophies and institutions. Discusses the development of…

Critically evaluates the methodologies used in three recent studies on poverty in Latin America. Maintains that some studies measure the relative nature of nutritional poverty while others record the absolute nature of nutritional poverty (physical survival). Includes a comparative analysis of the studies' results. (MJP)

Recounts a lawyer's personal experience teaching high school students from the wrong side of the tracks about the U.S. Constitution as part of a pilot program. Suggests that linking legal issues to students' personal lives. Can inspire as well as inform. (CH)

Examines the challenge of educating increasing numbers of minority and impoverished students to produce effective citizens and future workers. Offers a lesson on reconceptualizing European westward expansion to analyze the social construction of knowledge. Argues that schools can and must help students think critically, deal with social and…

Charts and graphs present data on changes in fiscal 1996 funding for the Department of Education and other federal agencies, and tables report dollar amounts of fiscal 1995 actual spending, fiscal 1996 estimated expenses, and fiscal 1996 requested aid for student assistance, graduate support, institutional assistance, research, and other purposes.…

An overview of educational policies toward language-minority students from 1960 to the present indicates how often they have been ignored. The new national standards movement, America 2000, is no exception. The effects that this initiative might have on the education of language-minority students are explored. (SLD)

Examples from a multiyear project in a Los Angeles (California) school in a low-income Hispanic school district illustrate successes of a program to improve the early reading achievement of Spanish-speaking primary school children. The interplay of research, practice, and school improvement resulted in significant improvement in early Spanish…

Maintains that an overhaul of the public educational system is necessary to meet the needs of all students, including poor and minority students. (BB)

Describes a recent movement among business leaders and others to start privately funded voucher programs that enable low-income parents to send their children to religious and other private schools. Covers programs in Indianapolis (Indiana), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), San Antonio (Texas), and Atlanta (Georgia); and notes minority families'…

The national supply of teachers has risen to meet the demand, largely because of the growing interest in alternative programs of teacher preparation. An overview is given of alternative teacher certification that has allowed many districts, especially large urban districts, to fill their vacancies. (SLD)

Presents a follow-up study of a cohort of 39 out of 115 African-American high school males who reached an average of 21 years. Results demonstrate some consequences of demographic change on educational outcome. Processes of undereducation of this segment of society are illustrated. (SLD)

Reviews studies that defined and measured the effects of quality in early child care and education, and analyzes successful programs to determine common traits. Common characteristics include small class sizes; teacher support for greater teaching effectiveness; long-lasting intervention; ongoing, child-focused communication between home and…

For 2 decades, policymakers have pretended that bureaucratic, state-imposed standards, testing, and sanctions will fundamentally raise all schoolchildren's academic achievement and create productive citizens. The losers have been children of the poor, working class, and undereducated. Policymakers are holding schools and children accountable for…

Examined the effectiveness of a 2-year, stage-based alcohol prevention intervention using nurse consultations and parent prevention materials among 6th graders in one neighborhood school and one bused magnet inner-city school. Students received either the experimental program or a minimal intervention. Student surveys and saliva testing indicated…

This longitudinal study assessed the role of afterschool program (ASP) participation in the development of child obesity and peer acceptance in a sample of 439 children. Most participants lived in poverty and were Hispanic or African American. Measurements of height and weight determined obesity status and peer acceptance was assessed through…