This study explored trends in how Americans spent disposable personal income (DPI) on recreational activities from 1929 to 1979. Statistics were compiled from the Economic Report of the President and the United States Department of Commerce. Twelve classifications of recreation expenditures are presented: (1) books and maps; (2) magazines,…

Following a brief discussion of some characteristics of the Amish culture and schools, data from the Iowa Test of Basic Skills are reported for 23 pupils in grades 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 in Pleasant Hill School near Bloomfield, Iowa. Thirteen pupils scored at or above the fifteenth percentile in mathematics concepts; 17 were at or above that level in…

The annotated bibliography is intended to examine the possible role of sociocultural factors on the low achievement and special education placement of limited English proficient (LEP) Hispanic children. Four topic areas are addressed: (1) ethnic differences in teacher-pupil interactions and their relation to achievement; (2) the relationship of…

The Amish society has retained the essence of rural life and can tell us how this preservation is possible. Originally associated with the Swiss Anabaptists, Amish are often confused with Mennonites because of the early association with Menno Simons. Because the Amish do not make the "prideful" claim of salvation, they are…

This anthropological study reports on some of the activities of daily living (ADL's) of 19 Spanish-speaking families living in a low income suburb of Washington, D.C. ADL's are defined as those functions which are performed on a usual day. Generically they include eating, sleeping, communicating, working, and recreating. In this paper, they…

Socioeconomic characteristics of settled-out Mexican American migrant farmworkers who were in the South Texas-based midwestern migrant stream were examined. By chain identification (each family identified 1 or 2 others), 27 subjects were located. These ex-migrants had, over the years, settled-out in and around a small city (population 40,000) in…

This paper examines the problems of dispelling mistaken concepts about a country, or de-mythologizing students' ideas about a country's daily life, in foreign language instruction. Some conclusions about teaching culture are offered, and the teaching experiences which led to those conclusions are related. It is felt that much teaching about the…

A quest for knowledge about the behavior and development of people in other parts of the world, concerns for social action, and greater family mobility have led to an increased interest in cross-cultural research. Male (N=112) and female (N=113) college students in India rated the desirability of 104 traits for Indian men or for Indian women. The…

This curriculum guide explores the Jewish ethnic and religious community in the United States generally, and specifically in Connecticut. Intended as a resource tool for studying the Jewish cultural heritage and traditions, the material may be used among Jews and non-Jews. The guide is divided into three parts. Part one is a detailed account of…

American expatriates, particularly those in business who are assigned abroad, often learn very little of the language and culture of the countries to which they are assigned. Some explanations of this phenomenon are offered based on observation of two U.S. communities in Tripoli, Libya, and Medan (Sumatra) from 1965 to 1973. First, the needs for…

The youth smoking problem is discussed and assistance is provided for teachers in developing smoking prevention and cessation programs. Four chapters serve as guides to understanding and working with the youth smoking problem. "Teenage Smoking in America" reviews trends in teenage smoking behavior and the factors that influence the initiation of…

Results of research investigations on sex differences suggest that: (1) those few differences which exist are average group differences; (2) biological and sociocultural factors are possible influences on observed sex differences; and (3) research on sex differences is basically inconclusive. Research examining these differences is inextricably…

Achievement assessment has recently become an issue of major public concern. Concurrent with demands which have placed increased reliance on measurement and assessment have been criticisms of present testing practices. The effects of sociocultural and motivation variables on achievement patterns of 7,000 Illinois school children were investigated.…

The paper suggests that new values created by modern forms of leisure have intersected with critical changes in the work structure to form a new social pattern. The new pattern emerges from a crisis in industrial societies. Factors which have created this crisis include the rupture of the time frames of society (how work and non-work are…

Causes for optimism in attitudes about education include the growing maturity of educators about the inter-connectedness of things, the increasing realization of the revolution in fairness that presently permeates the society, and a growing impatience with laxity in education. Schools are striving for educational equity, improved inservice teacher…