This book presents case studies of six "pockets of hope," democratic educational projects in which empowered students and their teachers actively engage with relevant academic and social problems. Although seemingly very different, the projects share a core commitment to democratic pedagogy and demonstrate practices consistent with…

This symposium explores the impact of a range of family resources on children's successful transition from middle to high school. The five case studies that form this symposium examine the ways in which children's experiences at school are directly related to their parents' knowledge of school structure and bureaucracy; self- confidence in making…

This report describes the legislative response to state supreme court rulings on rural and small schools and districts. The paper addresses the following questions: How have rural and small schools and school districts been affected by state supreme court rulings and subsequent legislation? What has been the experience of rural and small school…

In April 2003, Colorado passed H.B. 1160, thus becoming the first state to enact a school voucher law in the wake of the landmark ruling in favor of school vouchers by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2002. As expected, the Colorado law was immediately challenged in court. In December 2003, a state court declared the voucher program unconstitutional…

States are using a variety of approaches to assess secondary students' career technical education (CTE) skill attainment under Perkins. According to data reported in the U.S. Department of Education's "Report to Congress on State Performance, Program Year 2002-03," states and territories are currently using the following approaches to collect…

In almost all democratic countries, a rising incidence of nonformal means of political communication, e.g., polls, pressure groups, demonstrations, suggests a need to broaden participation in political decision making. Outlines two possible approaches for achieving this goal: the dual weighted-vote system and computerized politics. (Author/CS)

Livingston College, a branch of Rutgers University in New Jersey, was established to provide working class and disadvantaged ethnic groups with access to an innovative and socially oriented higher education curriculum. Contradictory values in the dominant society, however, led to the college's failure to realize its goals, and its eventual…

David Easton's model describing how political systems operate can help health educators initiate improvements and resist harmful changes. The Memphis (Tennessee) Board of Education's experience with the adoption of family life education is cited as an example of a constructive political strategy. (PP)

Discusses various elements of nursing education program articulation: politics, curriculum, core courses, philosophy, nursing theory, advantages and disadvantages of articulation, associate vs. baccalaureate degree programs, and program policies. (CT)

Describes the organization and purpose of the National and World Affairs Division of the National University Extension Association (NUEA) and discusses the need for public policy programing in continuing education. Proposes debate in the NUEA and its member organizations on the subject of members' role in such a policy. (MF)

Nicaragua's National Literacy Crusade of 1980 has brought impressive results. Through a mass mobilization effort, people of all ages served in 60,000 Sandinista Literacy Units; those who read taught those who could not. This article describes the program's implementation and outcomes. (Author/WD)

This article states that the understanding of the process of making school-closing decisions involves the consideration of both efficiency and political factors. (Author/EB)

Student movements in Japan are described as moving during the 1970s from cooperation between various radical sects to bloody conflict among them, from participation by students generally to involvement by only a limited core of committed activists, and from struggle against the university and society to one against society alone. (Author/MLW)

In a question-and-answer format Henry H. Krevor, Executive Director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, reports on the present status of the commission and the region and comments on prospects for the future. (Author/DS)

The political influences on three decisions of importance to University of Maryland faculty are examined. They are the dismissal of Edgar Beall, a physics teacher; the rejection of Marxist Bertell Ollman to head the government and politics department; and the rehiring, under threat of a budget cut, of the governor's sister, an English instructor.…