The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools maintains an interest in the improvement of elementary schools, as evidenced by its Cooperative Program in Elementary Education. The primary Technique for improving elementary schools is the faculty study, which is the sum total of a particular school's activities in selecting a problem, enlisting…

The historical background of citizen participation in local affairs and its relevance at the onset of community concern about cable television are briefly discussed in this report. The participation of citizens, municipal officials, and cable operators in laying the groundwork for a cable system as well as the pros and cons of cable television as…

Describes a personal experience in the effort to avoid widespread herbicide spraying. Provides insights for building a successful campaign: involvement, finding support, acceptance of differences of opinion, autonomy from political factions, and not assuming people are closed to healthier alternatives. (MCO)

Interviews were conducted with 35 grass roots activists from middle-sized U.S. cities and small towns to learn about their perspectives and activities. No effort was made to obtain a representative sample of activists. The five main approaches to social change encountered were represented by members of the ideological and political left, by…

Describes a course which teaches about the world conservation strategy and its application in a local context. Includes goals, participants, instructors, format, evaluation, and future direction of this course cosponsored by Tufts University (Massachusetts) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. (DC)

Describes the establishment and results of a study committee asked to review existing pesticide policy, vegetation management programs and provide improvement recommendations in Thurston County, Washington. (MCO)

By focusing on local problems or issues, student writers can craft research essays that exemplify civic engagement, a practice that reaffirms composition's tacit tradition from classical rhetoric and the educational philosophy of John Dewey. Volunteer experiences or local problems that affect students directly allow writers to actively research…

This article provides a brief account of a pilot project designed to enhance the Black community's involvement in the legislative process through a series of community meetings. The specific needs and concerns of the community participants are outlined. (Author)

Discusses the history of a citizen's organization on San Antonio's West Side, Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), which only organizations such as churches, block clubs, and civic groups, can join. Concludes that "COPS has proved that it has vote-getting ability far past the 5,000 people who attend citywide conventions."…

Information about 50 small-town governments in rural Vermont was analyzed to determine women's participation in town government. Results included the finding that percentage of offices held by women decreased as town size increased. Data suggested that women became politically active out of necessity and filled offices that reflected their…

Community activities of Black, former student activists, and nonactivists who attended college during the 1960s were investigated in a longitudinal study conducted in 1969 and 1978. Community involvement among both groups was similar. Although the sample size is small, this is the only study where the data was obtained while subjects were still…

A survey in an unincorporatedurban area compared the major community problems of concern to two groups: (a) randomly selected citizens, and (b) recognized community leaders. The results showed a large divergence of concerns as well as a striking number of citizens who felt themselves to be without spokesmen. (Author/JB)

Describes a number of projects through which elementary school students in Massachusetts learned about their local and state community and gained skills needed for active citizenship. (PRA)

Citizen involvement in the public decision-making process can be facilitated if appropriate forms and functions of involvement are used. The issue cycle, which can help public officials to ensure that citizens have constructive and timely input into the decision-making process, involves awareness of some condition in the community; community…