Interviews and survey questionnaires were used to collect--from 302 randomly selected farm households in the Kahvre Palanchowk District in eastern Nepal--information regarding how families make decisions about schooling for children. The findings suggest that sociocultural and economic factors cause parents to discriminate among children according…

Utilizing a model of ethnic community/host community co-evolution, describes interactions between the host environment and the Puerto Rican community of Hartford. Proposes a model for understanding smaller Puerto Rican communities--those outside the large urban centers usually studied. (GC)

This collection of papers discusses what researchers and classroom teachers think and do about culture in language education. There are nine chapters in two parts. Part 1, "Culture Theory," includes the following: (1) "Common Themes" (Joseph Lo Bianco); (2) "Culture: Visible, Invisible and Multiple" (Joseph Lo…

The "Research & Action Report," published twice a year, is a window on the activities and initiatives at the Wellesley Centers for Women. The report typically features news about the Centers, interviews with researchers, commentary on recent events or social trends affecting women and girls, announcements of new publications, and much more.…

Noting that the adoption and entry into force of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989 was an important milestone in history reflecting the changing image of the child, this book examines the relationship between education and children's rights. Chapter 1 deals with motivation, the different but interconnected reasons for…

Reviews the research on unemployed adolescents, noting a lack of evidence about the schools' role in preparing adolescents for an uncertain future and about unemployment from the adolescents' perspective. Discusses a Scottish study showing the effects of unemployment on adolescent lifestyle and leisure and the schools' emphasis on work. (SB)

Rural to urban migration has caused Mexican American families to deemphasize traditional cultural socialization practices oriented toward obedience and responsibility, and their children have become increasingly field-independent and competitive. However, an ecological intervention approach can reshape urban environments so that they support…

Describes the September 1978 study tour to China by 24 members of the Adult Education Association, presenting impressions of life in China from the adult education and lifelong learning point of view. Gives a background on Chinese adult education, formal and informal, and something of Chinese work and culture. (MF)

A futurist presents a picture of "cautious optimism" for the decade ahead in terms of resources--natural, technological, economic, organizational/political, human, labor and wages, and education and job skills. Our biggest problem, he says, is divisiveness, and education can help by preparing citizens to contribute to society through work. (MF)

Describes health problems in Nigeria and the kinds of health education programs and methods that are needed to promote proper health practices in view of the high illiteracy rate, various perception levels, and the strong and often harmful traditional cultural influences in the community. (MF)

Sociocultural, economic, and philosophical trends involving the "baby boom" generation of the 1940s are discussed in relation to both educational relevance and the growing interest in vocational education in nontraditional settings. (LH)

Argues that the profession and practice of music education research is becoming increasingly isolated and disengaged. Posits a parallel between this development and similar occurrences in the rest of society particularly the emphasis on consumption and commercialization. Maintains that this trend marks a decline in social capital. (MJP)

Argues that demographic, institutional, economic, and technological changes have altered fundamentally both the way we think about what it means to go to college and the methodologies we use to assess college impact. Discusses the implications of four forces: changing undergraduate student population; increasing importance of community colleges;…

Utilizes Uwe Poerksen's concept of "plastic words" to examine and criticize the preeminence given to research in art education. "Plastic words" refers to vague technical jargon that suggests meaning without actually providing it (e.g., development, process, goal-setting). Argues that this usage inherently corrupts and diverts any productive…

In this interview social scientist and professor, Seymour Martin Lipset discusses those aspects of U.S. culture and character that make it unique. Considers a broad range of influences and phenomena, including divine providence, social stratification, the absence of radicalism, and shifting ideological positions. (MJP)