Considers declining enrollment, White flight, and the fiscal crisis in the public schools. Shows how these factors coalesced in a school-closing suit in Santa Barbara, California, and discusses the implications of the court's decision for Mexican American education in that state. (GC)

This article discusses the underrepresentation of children from minority backgrounds in gifted education and the ultimate goal of gifted education to make children's lives better. Barriers to appropriate gifted identification are discussed and include state/local requirements and inadequate identification procedures, stereotypes and racism, and…

Considers current thinking about intercultural attitudes in Spain to demonstrate reasons why the Spanish approach to interculturalism, particularly in schools, has not been at the forefront of societal, governmental, or educational thinking. Discusses the dangers of ignoring immigrants' needs and abilities within the community and the…

Describes need for more Native Canadian lawyers and law students. Explains socioeconomic causes for Native underrepresentation in legal profession. Argues that law admissions policies and requirements for Native students are culturally biased and suggests admission reforms. Describes Program of Legal Studies for Native People at University of…

The paper recapitulates the flow of a 2-day conference on the 40 years since "Brown v. Board of Education," focusing on 2 general-session presentations that examined "Brown" as promise and discussed visions for the future. "Brown" is viewed as a benchmark of American democracy and an opportunity for redemption. (SM)

This article argues that standards of the American Association of Law Schools and the American Bar Association result in race norming in law school admissions, with substantially lower admission standards for African Americans and notes that proponents of such policies have been less than candid in a recent controversy concerning Georgetown Law…

The ideology behind the educational justifications for a national curriculum and national testing can damage members of society who have the most to lose. The paper analyzes the conservative agenda, discusses connections between national curricula and testing, increasing privatization, and choice plans, and notes resulting patterns of differential…

Presents an interview with Luba Chiliwniak on the significance of the gender gap for women in higher education. Offers an interview with Gregory Bernhardt as a "flip side" to the gap as it relates to men. Contains 14 references. (VWC)

The financial crunch facing the nation has reduced the scope of educational opportunity and depreciated the quality of education for many White students, but it is the disadvantaged minorities who are the most victimized. Most Black and Hispanic children attend predominantly minority urban schools with disproportionate shares of special needs…

None of the problems confronting the black community today are more critical to its future than those related to education. Blacks must demand that schools shift their focus from the supposed deficiencies of the black child to the social barriers that stand in the way of academic success. The historical interest of the black community in education…

Evidence is overwhelming that in spite of our rhetoric of equality of opportunity, American schools have endorsed and promoted the children of advantage and restrained and discouraged those of disadvantage. Our rhetoric of equality of opportunity, our American dream, is at stake. This concern is reflected fundamentally in the current national…

Many educational and employment problems of racial minorities, women, older adults, and the handicapped are associated with equity, discrimination, and equality. In economics, the concept of equity and its relevance to employment and education can best be understood through an analysis of two labor market theories. The theory of human capital sees…

The present call for excellence can be seen in previous cycles of educational reform. Recent reports and studies on reform lack a concern for equity. Concepts of equity, equality and excellence are discussed. Disadvantages for minorities in reform programs are pointed out. Alternative reforms are proposed to enhance equity for minorities and…

Considers the factors which lead to better educational opportunities for urban students in Kenya than for rural students. They include better equipment, well-trained teachers, the use of English as the language of instruction, lower fees, and the earlier introduction of curricular innovations and changes. (CMG)

The essays in this book comprise a "festschrift", a group of essays, to commemorate Barry Troyna, who made an important contribution to thinking about race, racism, and research on social-justice issues in the school context. Much of his work was directed at showing that it was impossible to research questions of "race"…