Today there is a lot of discussion about creative economies and how cities are the engines driving growth in a variety of industries. But cities are not merely rows of buildings, or sets of laws, such as zoning ordinances or parking regulations. A city is, rather, a set of dynamic experiences that we all participate in as co(labor)ators. As a way…

In this response to the call for transformative models of teaching students in urban contexts, the author presents his own experiences in becoming a critical pedagogue, the path that led him there, and three models of classrooms that he sees in such contexts. He emphasizes the need to reject an apolitical stance in urban education, and provides a…

This essay critiques the ideological assertions of corporate school reform and discusses how these logics perpetuate failure in urban education. Drawing on theories of neoliberal urbanism, the right to the city, and the commons, the essay argues that educational researchers and advocates need to reframe the values of urban education in line with a…

Descriptions of the urban contemporary format remain strongly grounded on the assumption that it is based on musical styles associated with African Americans, such as R&B, soul, hip hop, rap, and reggae. Even for the most progressive educators, to speak of urban music is to refer to a narrow set of musical genres associated with the umbrella term…

Creating first hand experiences of urban cultures that focus on reflection and leave profound impressions on students while providing the framing for future cycles of experiential learning is a complex and difficult dynamic to navigate. The way urban manifestations of a different culture are directly experienced varies depending on the…

In this article, the author shares that what she knows about the inner city does not stem from the location of her childhood. Rather, she knows about the inner city through the vernacular of her peers who use it to entitle courses; name proposals, scholarly presentations, and research foci; refer to practicum settings where numerous prospective…

The author details how a massive shift of people, jobs, and money has benefited the "sunbelt" cities of the South and West at the expense of the "frostbelt" cities of the Northeast and Midwest. Some implications for education are suggested. (Author/MLF)

Reports on a year-long study of how children's literacy practices enhanced their understanding of themselves and their social worlds. Finds that children's reading and writing benefited them personally and socially, enabling them to understand a complex urban landscape, to explore new social identities, and to wrestle with social problems and ways…

Urban school systems are finding it increasingly difficult to meet the extensive educational needs of their students, many of whom are from poverty backgrounds. By all statistical measures, the cities have far more than their share of economically disadvantaged pupils. Because of urban poverty, many of these students are not prepared to learn,…

Current population trends represent a dramatic shift in wealth and educated people to the Sunbelt, creating a secondary effect in terms of growth, jobs, tax bases, and school enrollments. These trends will continue in the 1980s, intensifying the decline in economic conditions, the quality of social and educational services, and the quality of life…

Discusses how students, faculty, and staff face challenging opportunities in supporting the urban agenda of metropolitan universities. Claims that leaders must contemplate these issues and should leverage the qualities of city life to the benefit of the university. Stresses importance of institutional research, instruction, and service activities…

The human drama in beginning St. Louis's desegregation plan is presented. As the chair of a citizen's committee, the author worked with the superintendent and the Board of Education to create a plan. Implementation was accomplished in a few months. The desegregation of suburban districts was settled in court. (VM)

Equity in vocational education cannot be addressed until the question of urban cultural pluralism has been fully analyzed. This question involves problems of minorities, the disadvantaged, and those with limited English proficiency. Barriers facing urban youths enrolling in vocational education include close-knit ethnic pockets attempting to…

Because it is based on the premise that learning is a lifelong process and that citizen participation is essential to neighborhood problem solving, community education is particularly attuned to the current needs of cities and can be an effective means for meeting the resettlement needs of immigrants and refugees, as well as for expanding local…

This policy statement, issued by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in pamphlet form, and approved by the membership, addresses the importance of urban colleges and universities for urban populations, and in particular, for minorities. A first section, on educating urban students, stresses that while seeking academic rigor…