Reports on the social orientation and educational plans of 1,630 Russian ninth-graders in 21 urban areas. Asserts that family differences have a significant influence on students' future educational plans. Students hold knowledge and science in less esteem because of the recent declining income of college graduates. (CFR)

Reports on an action research study on improving equality of opportunity for students in a socially and racially mixed classroom. Finds that students were empowered by their involvement setting up and drawing conclusions from the study. Questions the extent to which research should focus on race, social class, or gender. (CFR)

Discusses the development of adolescent peer groups, student cultures, school violence, and effective interventions. Contends that the likelihood of violence increases when mediation boards and peer counseling are unavailable or ineffective. Includes a bibliography of 12 teacher resources on school violence. (CFR)

Maintains that, because of its importance in modern U.S. history, over 300 college courses are taught on the Vietnam War. Asserts that studying the war helps students develop critical thinking skills needed for citizenship. Describes the texts, formats, and assignments used in a college sociology course on the Vietnam War. (CFR)

Reports on a reevaluation study of the effects of high school vocational education on students' odds of being unemployed and students' occupational attainment. Finds that vocational education inhibits the likelihood of attending college and finding subsequent professional/managerial employment, but reduces the risk of unemployment. (CFR)

Maintains that, in many African nations, the structure of educational institutions remains determined largely by colonial foundations. Discusses educational history in Zimbabwe from the 1920s until 1987. Contends the most significant feature of Zimbabwe's educational system has been continuous and rapid sociopolitical change. (CFR)

Discusses concepts of social agency, cultural mediation, and constitutive action for understanding inequality in schools. Describes the sociolinguistic argument about the structure of language, the interpretive school, and the demands of capitalism. Urges transcending the macro-micro or structure-agency dualism by demonstrating the situated…

Presents a study of low educational interest and participation area. Quoting from ethnographic interviews, discusses the influences of family, schools, and community on educational decisions. Describes plans to increase public awareness, and develop new curricula and intervention strategies. (DMM)

Using grades and standardized test scores as criteria variables, a survey determined relative effects of sociocultural variables, personality factors, and student perceptions of school and social events in explaining differential patterns of academic achievement for 89 Asian-American tenth graders. Findings are discussed in connection with the…

Four approaches to the teaching of second language (L2) reading are described (grammar-translation, comprehension questions/exercises, skills and strategies, and extensive reading) and their status in the reading classroom is examined, and important issues in L2 reading are then discussed, including word recognition, affective and sociocultural…

Examined associations between perceived family relationships and depressive symptoms in two ethnic contexts--European American and Asian American--at two developmentally important points--early adolescence and late adolescence/early adulthood. Found that ethnic differences in depressed mood not evident in the early adolescent sample emerged in the…

Literature on gender, higher education administration, and leadership is reviewed using the framework of five principles derived from feminist psychology (Worell & Johnson, 1997): (a) sociocultural context influences leadership situations, (b) power dynamics impact sociocultural structures, (c) people are active agents of coping and…

Increasing pressure has been placed on teacher education to prepare teachers to educate bilingual/bicultural students using scientifically-based teaching methods. Socio-cultural theory and pedagogy have emerged as a research-based foundation for diversity teacher preparation. Socio-cultural theory rests on the premise that learning is social,…

Designed to provide information on the current state of workforce training at the nation's community colleges, this two-part report summarizes results from a national survey of two-year college workforce training programs and documents the growing economic and educational importance of such programs. The first section discusses a fall 1991 survey…

A study investigated (1) whether Japanese learners of a second language have the same learning strategies as other groups previously studied, and (2) whether the experience of studying or living abroad affects learning strategy use. Subjects were 24 Japanese third-year college students, learners of English as a second language who were studying in…