In this paper the author argues that during the Civil Rights era, during that time of great concern regarding Black American voting and citizenship rights, ideas about rearing young Black children in the United States were explicitly introduced to guide parent education programs. Early emphases on deficits linked to educability, shifted to themes…

This document consists of two modules. The first studies a variety of multicandidate voting systems, including approval, Borda, and cumulative voting, using a model which takes account of a voter's intensity of preference for candidates. The voter's optimal strategy is investigated for each voting system using decision criteria under uncertainty…

Cross-sectional analysis of 1971-1972 budget elections and expenditure data in 111 large K-12 school districts in Oregon indicates that the "agenda control" and "fiscal illusion" models predict expenditure levels better than the standard "median voter" model. The median voter model assumes that district expenditures…

Surveys were conducted to present a picture of the participation of ethnic minorities in British elections. The surveys measured voter registration, knowledge and attitudes about issues, voting patterns in the 1979 General Election, candidates' attitudes about issues (especially race relations issues), and activities and election success of…

The status of civil rights in housing, education, and employment is reviewed in this report. Among the conclusions are: (l) although 1979 court decisions helped to remedy discriminatory housing policies and practices, housing discrimination remains widespread throughout the United States, and decent housing for older persons, minorities, and…

This study surveyed the classroom teacher as an agent of political socialization. Subjects were 1,057 prospective teachers from five heterogeneous colleges and universities in the upper north central region of the U.S. Questionnaire data revealed that, in general, subjects felt politically competent and efficacious, had a limited knowledge of the…

Examining school board elections in Tucson, Arizona, the study focused on the extent to which voters preferred candidates of their own racial/ethnic background, the socio-political factors affecting the voters' preferences, and the degree of voter polarization among Chicano and Anglo voters. Data were derived from the Pima County Election Bureau,…

This case study examined the recent history of a southwestern school district of approximately 80,000 students and its 1977 school board election. The results of the study provide evidence supporting the theory linking the complexity of a school district with electoral competition and with open conflict on the board and between the board and the…

The purpose of this book is to explore the effects of public opinion on governmental policy making, with a special focus on the role of the mass media in this process. Specific areas covered include political campaigning, the President and the press, blacks and the media, and cable television. Topics of discussion in the ten chapters are: linkage…

This report provides an account of public-interest law firm activities supported by the Ford Foundation. Public interest law is a phrase that describes efforts aimed at providing legal representation for underrepresented interests in the legal process. The report is arranged into four major sections. The first section, on the evolution of the…

This report provides data about the sale of bonds for financing the construction of public elementary and secondary school facilities during the fiscal year 1973. Data were compiled on the number of bond sales, the average net interest cost, the issuing agency, and the term of maturity. The report also provides summary information regarding bond…

A televote system to aid two-way communication between public officials and constituents was developed and demonstrated in the San Jose Unified School District. The objectives of the system are: (1) to provide citizens and public officials information on community problems; (2) to provide civic planners knowledge of the views of citizens so their…

The impact of the student newspaper at Michigan State University on the decision making of student voters was assessed by studying the findings of telephone interviews conducted during the 1971 local East Lansing (Michigan) City Council campaign, one of the first elections in which 18 year olds could vote, and the findings of a similar…

Published six times a year, the newsletter keeps educators abreast of assessment studies; forthcoming reports; staff announcements, meetings, and services rendered; notes of interest; and publications. The newsletter allows for dissemination of current information of the National Assessment which provides data to measure student knowledge, skills…

Random telephone surveys in a northern and a southern city were initiated to determine attitudes toward "informative" and "direct reference" mass media political advertisements. Responses were organized in regional, social, and racial categories. The results quantified reactions to the two types of political messages of blacks…