Describes the role of parent information centers in the school selection process, drawing on experiences with six Massachusetts information centers. In spite of insufficient funding and overwhelming work loads, these centers are providing valuable information to help parental school choice and to promote parent participation in school decision…

Offers the text of an interview with James A. Banks, a leading scholar and authority on multicultural education. Discussed are the aftermath of the Los Angeles (California) riots, the role of multicultural education in social change, the nature and aim of multicultural education, teachers' roles, and the nation's future. (JB)

Compares two groups of high school social studies teachers to determine how their attitudes and beliefs about instruction inform their practice in promoting higher order thinking among students. Measures teacher performance across 10 dimensions of classroom thoughtfulness based on Fred Newmann's work. Finds an important link between teachers'…

Argues educational ideology is geographically and historically specific by comparing London and Tyneside activist teachers' views concerning antiracist ideology. Identifies contradictions within contemporary teaching practices and contends that dominant liberal-educationalism has co-opted antiracism. In contrast to predominantly White Tyneside,…

A required research course in a Master of Social Work curriculum attempted to offer experience in integrating research and practice through a student research project, in which students worked to improve their interviewing and relationship-building skills through student roleplaying and peer feedback. Evaluations of the project's effectiveness…

Uses ethnographic sources and interviews with 3 university administrators and 14 elementary school teachers in a case-study approach to describe the development of a collaborative partnership between a university and an inner-city public school in southern California. Positive outcomes and deterrents to success are identified. (SLD)

Presents a study to determine the effects of introducing methods students to the "learning cycle" technique on their ability to adapt science textbooks to the method and employ it in their teaching. Interviews of 24 randomly selected students out of 48 participants indicated that 75 percent used the approach while student teaching and…

Over 100 interviews with teachers and administrators provide the base for this analysis of teacher empowerment in several highly decentralized school districts. Examined are (1) how teachers respond to opportunities for influence; (2) how such opportunities affect teaching; and (3) how opportunities affect teachers' work lives and sense of…

Studies ethnic differences in parent involvement and ways to increase involvement of low-income parents. Interviews with 83 parents (51 identified as Latino) of 83 students indicated parent attitudes. An intervention with 58 families of 119 kindergarten and first grade students resulted in greater participation than for 61 control families. (SLD)

Discussion of the use of computer conferencing in education focuses on a Canadian study of adult distance education students that examined learning strategies when using computer conferencing. Topics addressed include interviews with students and teachers; behavior by students and by instructors; learner control; affective needs; and implications…

Librarians from the University of Arizona describe the process of reorganizing from a traditional to a team-centered, user-focused organization. The reasons for reorganizing, the preliminary self-study process, the design and implementation of the new structure, staff participation and reaction, developing staff teamwork, and advice for other…

Describes a twelfth grade oral-history teaching project with multi-ethnic U.S. history senior students. Stresses that the project helps students think about and understand today's world by developing historical understanding. Activities include designing questionnaires, conducting interviews, writing biographical sketches, and producing a…

Demographic characteristics of juvenile victims of crime and a potential relationship between victimization and self-reported delinquency are examined for 877 adolescents from a large midwestern city. Lifetime victimization rates (LVRs) are higher for those involved in delinquency, and LVRs rise with age and higher levels of delinquent behavior.…

Differences in use of selective attention by 64 more successful and 48 less successful readers in the tenth grade were studied. More successful readers are more aware of how and when to use the selective attention strategy and use more conceptual attention while reading than do less successful readers. (SLD)

The Salvadoran educator J. Portillo describes popular education practiced in El Salvador in the midst of civil war. Salvadoran popular education is organized by members of the community who receive it and is usually led by nonprofessional educators. Most popular education is in literacy or at the elementary level. (SLD)