The German sociologist and communication theorist Jurgen Habermas' theory of communication as it applies to the problems of developing nations takes into account both the structural factors that hinder indigenous development as well as the individual psychology of the citizens of the less-developed countries (LDC). This paper details the…

This analysis of cultural pluralism in the United States focuses on the central concerns of balancing inequities and cultivating pluralistic values and attitudes. The first chapter reviews the historical background of cultural pluralism and its implications for educators. In Chapter 2, the theory of cultural pluralism is explored, concentrating on…

Although self-actualization is often considered a need to be met after more basic needs are fulfilled, experience with a development project in four impoverished and isolated Colombian communities indicates that development of human potential can be an integral part of overall development. An environment that supports the development of human…

The concept of "subjects" has posed a philosophical dilemma and polarised debate within early childhood education. Consequently, little attention has been paid to teachers' and children's subject knowledge and the role these might play in early childhood curriculum and pedagogy to extend and enhance children's learning. This article…

This study of black families examined the degree of congruence between family structure, family interaction, and attitudinal constellations in the home and the utilization of selected health, educational and social service agencies. Data were collected from parents of 150 children attending the Howard University Child Development Center and from 4…

This study attempts to provide a systematic mapping of the linguistic structural properties of North American Indian languages. The study includes: (1) the history of areal-typological linguistic studies in North America; (2) a framework for the presentation of areal linguistic phenomena in North America; (3) a presentation and discussion of the…

This paper is concerned with the role of speech in the development of control of cognitive processes, with particular attention paid to the nature of bilingualism. It is stated that exposure to a second language provides a way of overcoming the encapsulation of the mind that develops when an individual is exposed to only one language. In order to…

In formulating an official language policy, a country must consider cultural, social, political and economic factors. Alternative policies on language instruction can be categorized into three groups: 1) subordination of the home language to the country's dominant language; 2) bilingual maintenance through the simultaneous provision of instruction…

The sociocultural significance of clothing and dress in Deerfield, a rural, midwestern elementary school, is examined. The underlying assumption is that clothing and dress illustrate the symbolic level of correspondence between patterns and meanings in public school life and those existing in society to which schools are linked. The first part of…

Through a series of four successfully field-tested activities, secondary students examine the changing age structure of the U.S. population and consider some of the implications for the future as the proportion of elders increases and the proportion of youth declines. In the first activity "Age/Sex Pyramids," students use population…

Educational psychology, being part of the youth-oriented education system, has neglected adult development and learning phenomena. Recent major socio-cultural changes challenge the discipline's youth orientation while simultaneously offering opportunities for significant research, teaching and service, and for fertile dialectic within the higher…

A dialect survey of the transition between two major Indo-Aryan languages in Nepal, Bhojpuri and Maithili, was conducted focusing on both the linguistic and sociolinguistic aspects of the various languages and dialects. The purpose of the study was to find out where and how this transition occurred between the pure Bhojpuri-speaking area and the…

Social power is defined as the ability to affect group decisions; power actors are those individuals who seek and exercise power and affect group decisions. Power structure research was conducted in Kershaw County, South Carolina in 1971 and 1977. Although methodologies differed, both surveys identified and interviewed power actors for the county,…

This volume summarizes, analyzes, and discusses the 52 papers on theoretical perspectives of school crime and poverty solicited by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) for the purpose of illuminating findings from the "Safe School Study Report to Congress." It also analyzes 12 papers not included in the original NCCD…

Two papers are included here, one presenting an overview of inservice education and the second presenting data on the attitudes of teachers toward inservice education in Texas. Specific concepts that have guided inservice education are focused on as well as (1) the many trends that have influenced it, (2) the objectives of the inservice programs,…