Compares three critical transitions at the end of elementary school and during secondary education prior to and after educational reform in the Netherlands. Concludes that the educational reform efforts promoted more equal educational opportunities by increased student participation. (CFR)

Argues that a fundamental characteristic of a democratic, pluralistic society is social institutions fair and open to all citizens. Discusses criteria for applying the principle of equality in judging equality of access to education. (CFR)

Asserts that, in the urban classrooms of the early 20th century, women teachers faced two contradictory images: (1) the idealized view of the gentle, nurturing teacher; and (2) the reality of the harsh working conditions in city schools. Concludes that administrators were content to let classroom teachers deal with disciplinary issues. (CFR)

Argues that the study of Great Books need not be a politically conservative enterprise. Suggests that such a program be extended to offering the best education to all and the teaching of critical thinking. Urges that non-Western works be included as well as the best of women and minority writers. (DK)

Examines traditional functions that the family has performed and describes what happens when sizable numbers of families do not fulfill these functions. Presents data on the scope and significance of childhood poverty and declining academic achievement. Explores implications for public policy of links between family change and child development.…

The four games in this booklet are designed to stimulate critical thinking about the effects of structural and cultural issues on society and on the process of social change. The first and original game, "The Growth Game," gives participants a hands-on experience with the basic theoretical constructs of a Marxian critique of the mainstream tenets…

Issues related to the authority structures governing local public school districts are presented in this volume, which includes a paper and three discussant comments. The thesis of the main paper is that school organization affects the outcomes of public schools. The relationship between features of the formal authority structure to central reform…

Trends in higher education in Latin America and the Caribbean, educational goals, financing of universities, and future prospects are discussed. Attention is directed to the expansion of higher education, the relationship of expansion to the social structure and to democratization, access to higher education by women, access in relation to…

This paper focuses on the relationship between minority languages/cultures and educational achievement in mixed industrial societies, highlighting, in particular, the role of language and discourse strategies in the reproduction of educational inequality. Three major factors underlying accounts of inequalities in social and educational…

THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL DESEGREGATION WAS STUDIED AS IT OCCURED IN SEVEN SOUTHERN CITIES OF THE UNITED STATES, RESULTING FROM THE 1954 "BROWN" DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT. THESE CITIES WERE COLUMBUS, JACKSONVILLE, NEW ORLEANS, MONTGOMERY, ATLANTA, MIAMI, AND BATON ROUGE. CASE STUDY DATA WERE GATHERED THROUGH INTERVIEW RESPONSES AND…

Pressures on rural Appalachian families to function as an integral part of the larger American society have led to internal discord and a "Culture of Poverty"; consequently, a new vehicle for rural community reorganization is needed, particularly for low-income rural Appalachian communities. An alternative for non-conventional…

Based on a review of literature by proponents and opponents of the back to basics movements, the authors contend that the movement will contribute to the continued existence of a stratified society in which the school reproduces existing power relationships. A summary of the literature of proponents presents varying ideas of what constitutes…

The major issue in urban education is class conflict. The polarity of the "haves" and "have-nots" limits the schools' services to the latter group because of the generally moderate stance of most liberal school board members and their insufficient zeal in pressing the grievances of the have-nots. Bureaucratic resistance and the…

This book contains 15 articles reviewing significant developments in sociology in 1977. The first paper discusses the major trends and research evidence on the relationship between work-related technology and job satisfaction. A review of research dealing with social crisis and disaster is presented in the next article. The third paper reviews…

This volume on Mexico is one of a series of handbooks prepared by the Foreign Area Studies (FAS) of the American University. It is designed to be useful to military and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of Mexico. The emphasis is on…