This paper explores some of the issues involved in assessing national-curriculum standards at the local level. Some of the things that might foster the use of high-quality assessments include: (1) feasible and assessable state content standards; (2) a clear purpose for each assessment; (3) an emphasis on valid, fair, and reliable classroom…

Relevent, locally-controlled educational programs play key roles in rural development in developing nations. Education has a desirable controlling influence over development of the rural individual, family, community, and society, leading to reduced poverty, income equity, and controlled unemployment. The failure of trickle-down development and…

Rapid residential growth in rural areas or on the fringes of urban areas brings both costs and benefits. Seven factors determine whether new homes and subdivisions generate more revenues than expenditures. Local governments can substantially influence four of these seven factors in order to reduce the public costs of residential growth. Less…

This booklet considers the problems of urban unemployment and presents 21 case studies of urban areas dealing with the problem. The first chapter defines urban unemployment and classifies barriers to employment, trends in unemployment, and types of unemployed persons. Chapter 2 describes some general principles necessary to successfully combat the…

Rural Africa includes some 80% of the African population; its people are poverty stricken, illiterate, ill-sheltered, and ill-nourished. These circumstances make rural development absolutely vital. However, past rural development policies have failed to take into consideration the structure and division of labor in the farm family, the traditional…

Part of a sequential series of curriculum units in environmental education for grades 4 through 12, this curriculum guide for grade 9 focuses on identifying problems, formulating hypotheses, considering alternatives, and making decisions in environmental education. The activities include the showing of films, making environmental decisions,…

This paper describes various ethnic communities in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area whose cultural continuity and identity are threatened by encroaching economic problems and government involvement. Each of these areas is mixed in population but has a dominant group that provides an ethos within which a stable, supportive social structure…

In the last analysis, the school curriculum is under the control of the local education authority and of the people who elect that authority. Looking ahead in the social studies field, it seems evident that social studies teachers will have to accept a task of community education in addition to their task of classroom education. Teachers will have…

In developing programs to foster purposive social change, it is imperative that program planners receive information regarding the perceptions of those in key positions and the general public concerning the major problems or issues facing a county. This report assesses the characteristics of leaders from several North Carolina counties in regard…

This hardcover report, commonly known as the Rosner Report, is based on the findings of the Committee on National Program Priorities in Teacher Education (CNPPTE). The recommendations focus on developing the necessary conditions for competency-based teacher education and certification as well as developing incentives for inservice teacher…

The primary objective of this sourcebook is to help the teacher relate causes and consequences of population change to other social and environmental issues already being explored in the classroom. Sources suggested here are for use as supplementary material to be integrated into existing curricula. Divided into main sections that cover…

Presents the perspectives of a high school librarian and a high school English teacher on the issue of censorship in their schools. (MM)

Presents five projects on student voting rights recommended for college students in U.S. government and constitutional law courses. Projects include reading the state's residency law, investigating state and local interpretation of student voting rights, researching the constitutional issues involved in voting rights, and surveying students as to…

Using Santa Barbara, California, as a case study, the relations among the election of school board members, community educational priorities, and the accomodation of social services to public demand are examined. Given enough time, it is asserted, voters' democratic control of school policy is visibly exercised. (KH)

Profiles Active Citizenship Today (ACT), a social studies service learning program for middle and high school students. In ACT, students explore their community, identify problems, examine public policy, explore their options, and take action. Includes unit excerpts from the ACT teacher's handbook. (MJP)