The intent of a recent study was to extend earlier studies on college environments into the 1970's by examining the impacts of various aspects of the academic environment at 12 California colleges and universities. The effects are investigated of several aspects of the college environment on students' satisfaction with the college experience,…

First graders (105 males and 152 females) from 16 "Central City" schools within the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles were selected because they were diagnosed as poorly prepared for regular classroom activities. Following the administration of a six-category test battery, the children were placed within two groups: Group 1, containing…

Part-time instructors constitute a substantial proportion of the faculty at all levels of instruction. Community colleges in California are especially dependent on part-time instructors. Based on a survey of 243 (46%) part-time instructors at Santa Monica College, this study shows that most part-time instructors are committed to the profession of…

The Arctic is covered with ice and snow for most of the year. Animals that live in Alaska's arctic region must be able to survive long winters and very cold temperatures. Surprisingly, many animals live in the harsh, cold climate. This first-grade activity plan helps students learn about the animals of the far north. The plan gives six steps for…

In order to be responsive to the changing demographics of the emerging community college student population, and in an attempt to answer the Chancellor's Office's call to discover how community colleges serve the diverse needs of students, Shasta College, California, collaborated with Feather River College, California, to conduct a study that…

A study of 38 K-12 teachers at the 1996 summer institute of the Northern California Mathematics Project suggested that a learning environment incorporating technology, facilities for sharing computer solutions, and development of skills with software can foster effective and spontaneous learner-initiated use of technology for mathematical…

When the author became the principal of Citrus Middle School in 1998, it was the lowest performing school in the district. Students from Citrus were viewed as largely under-prepared, often read below grade level, had high drop-out rates, and were responsible for a significant amount of the gang activity on the school campus. She was also told that…

Results of a study involving 450 teachers in three California school districts show that two sets of standards exist for judging the effectiveness of teacher unions. For union leaders, legitimacy means keeping promises to teachers by winning concessions from management and, at the same time, working toward a more credible and cooperative…

The end of the bracero program after 1965 brought about a major change in the growing, harvesting, and processing of California tomatoes which dramatically influenced the structure of the harvesting labor force. In order to determine the social consequences of the transition from man to mechanized harvesting procedures, the following areas of…

This book is written to help the reader avoid some of the problems that the Pasadena school system and community experienced during the evolution of an alternative program. It leads one through a developmental process in the evolution of an alternative school that started in the spring of 1972. The school has grown to 600 students in 30 months and…

Data collected from 30 East Los Angeles Mexican American mothers, using semistructured interviews, indicated that family related variables distinguish families of gang members from control families. Youths in gangs are more likely to come from families which put less emphasis on intrafamilial socialization, youth supervision, and outward…

Discusses (1) working conditions and responsibilities of California social studies teachers, i.e., where they work, general working environments, what they teach, and the student population they serve; (2) age, experience, education, and male/female ratios; and (3) professional opportunities. Offers suggestions for strengthening psychic rewards…

This collection of papers provide a range of data on dealing with violence in the schools and communities, focusing on risk factors and correlates of youth violence, how violence affects young people, and how schools can help students avoid violence. The papers include: "Youth Violence in the United States: Major Trends, Risk Factors, and…

Researchers have long been interested in why some children have behavioral and developmental problems while others appear to develop "normally." A substantial body of research supports the notion that a child's early experiences--from birth to school entry--can influence significantly later cognitive, behavioral, educational, and…

This ethnographic study examined the introduction of school uniforms in the public schools of one California city. Findings indicated that the uniform issue intersected with issues such as student safety and violence, family stress, egalitarianism, competitive dressing, and a power struggle over shaping the childhood environment. It was concluded…