This book presents a case study of a Puerto Rican community in an industrial city, exposing conflicts surrounding the education of language and ethnic minority children and the resistance of many "Anglos" toward parents and community as sources of knowledge. Over 9 years, data were collected from bilingual families living in Steel Town,…

These proceedings present papers from a workshop for policymakers from member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that focused on higher education in transitional economies. After a brief overview of the workshop and the participating countries, reports are presented on Cambodia, China,…

This book examines civic capacity and urban education politics in 11 large cities, highlighting change at the citywide level. Chapter 1, "The Scope of the Problem," introduces the subject. Chapter 2, "The Challenge of Change in Complex Policy Subsystems," suggests that education may be a "high-reverberation" policy…

This book examines the nature of persistent poverty in two impoverished towns in the coalfields of Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta and a contrasting social milieu in a prosperous but remote rural mill town in northern New England. Drawing on 350 in-depth interviews and census data, the book analyzes the dynamics of poverty, politics, and…

This paper analyzes educational finance reforms initiated in Ontario. It outlines the changes in governance, funding, and curriculum and states that reforms were implemented without proper support and forethought, resulting in chaos. The report details how the rise of a conservative government in the province led to a desire to reduce taxation and…

Historically, participation in school affairs gave rural people a working knowledge of how democracy functioned. In the late 19th century, power shifted from the voice of the many to the voice of a few, as "expert" opinion increasingly influenced state legislators, governors, and national political leaders. The push to consolidate…

Explores some basic theoretical questions pertaining to positive discrimination in education, drawing from empirical experiences of several countries that have practiced it in one form or another--the United States, India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. Encompasses policies and practices that have variously been called reverse discrimination,…

The college novels of C. P. Snow present an accurate portrayal of academic life. Snow's artistic approach combined with the scientific approach to higher education enables those who engage in the study of higher education to achieve an in-depth understanding of organizational behavior in institutions of higher learning. (MLW)

Politics will play a larger role in the future of Black colleges than the strictly educational, professional, or intellectual issues. Educational decisions will reflect political decisions and issues. Political organization and leadership are essential to the survival of Black colleges. (Author/MC)

The press for property tax relief and for limits on public spending is likely to lead to more centralization of school governance and greater state control over educational practices. Schools would look and operate much the same way in any given state. Local autonomy would be a relic. (Author)

The author presents several factors which pertain to state involvement in family life. Among these factors are social diversity, social agency usurpation of family roles, the need for parent and family involvement in child rearing, conducting needs assessment, conducting hearings prior to policy decisions, and making social services relevant. (DB)

The article details four factors preventing social researchers from identifying political alternatives to technological change and thereby influencing public policy in American agriculture, discussing the general failure of rural sociologists to engage in policy research and calling for more policy studies. (SB)

Examines implications of initiating a teaching council in Lesotho, noting barriers to this action and discussing the influence on teacher education of several institutions (e.g., teacher education programs, government, and church). The paper notes divisions among teacher organizations and the government, and examines Lesotho's political context…

In addition to addressing trends that are likely to have an impact on the health education profession, this article reviews recommendations that have existed largely in the literature and less in practice. Some topics discussed are: demographics and health education and care, program advocacy, community empowerment, and credentialing. (SM)

Discusses how various Christian fundamentalist groups have succeeded in imposing their ideology on public schools. Such groups have been disrupting school practice since the 1980s, with school curriculum and reading material content usually at the center of disputes. Recommends that local school districts take such groups seriously to keep them…