Today's educational reform proposals are undermined by four dilemmas. First, the public may demand visible results before it will provide the funding needed to achieve them. Second, higher academic standards will increase failure rates, while more attainable standards will inadequately educate students. Third, the current focus on high schools may…

This paper provides a checklist of 10 potential ethical problems associated with intervention in families through home-based programs. Problems which directly involve program participants are (1) pressure on parents to join the program, (2) violation of confidentiality, (3) intrusiveness, (4) need to respect the family's style of living, (5)…

Recounts the childhood experiences of the son of a children's author. Describes the father's writing habits, his use of imagery in his books, and his custom of reading his new stories aloud to his children. (NKA)

An active role is recommended for family members involved in rehabilitation of cognitive communicative impairments of head-injured individuals. The paper discusses family systems theory, dysfunctional family reactions to the cognitive communicative behaviors of the head-injured member, and methods of assisting the family to develop the…

This paper argues for the need to move beyond the paradigm of parental involvement in reading, which presently informs home/school reading programs for linguistic minority children in the United Kingdom (UK). The first part of the paper examines the literature informing the current model showing the marked absence of studies on the role played by…

This paper asserts that early childhood teachers need to consider the families with whom they work in order to select the most effective ways to involve them in their child's education. The paper presents strategies mentioned most often in interviews with teachers and families working in effective family involvement programs. Each strategy is…

The Parent Leadership Program team that created and facilitated a Local Liaison Learning Group between September 1998 and November 1999 gathered in mid-January 2000 to discuss what they had learned. The Learning Group was thought of by the Parent Leadership Program team as an applied research setting for investigating the conditions that support…

Claims that for home and school to cooperate on behalf of students, they must share a similar vision. Presents the concept of "critical literacy" to provide this vision. Recommends establishment of standards that clarify literacy outcomes, creation of a developmental perspective for monitoring students' progress, implementation of…

This discussion of issues in the mentoring of African-American youth defines mentoring, identifies elements of successful mentoring, stresses the importance of recognizing existing family and community assets, and urges parental involvement and a program philosophy which affirms the value of resiliency in children surviving in difficult…

In 1990-91 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act Amendments (1986) will require public schools to provide appropriate educational services for three and four year olds with handicapping conditions. This article examines this legislation, the historical factors contributing to its passage, and its implications for children, families, and…

This reprint of an article on early education of an exceptionally intellectually talented sister and brother is preceded by a commentary that stresses that many teachers and administrators fail to appreciate acceleration as part of the complement of options to be used with gifted students. (Contains 4 references.) (CR)

This commentary reviews previous articles that discuss major educational approaches for young children with autism from the perspective of a parent with a child with autism. Considerations for parents in selecting an intervention and the need for more intervention information and resources for parents are addressed. (CR)

Students who succeeded in school are almost always supported by their families, while other students struggle without support from home. For a school to develop a partnership program involving all parents in ways that increase student success requires new ways of thinking about family and community involvement. All schools need a purposeful,…

Communication technology strengthens the bonds of parent-program partnerships. It does a great job of reinforcing and broadening parent outreach efforts. It helps staff respond to a wide variety of family questions and needs. And it allows them to respond in a timely manner. In this article, the author explores how to put technology's amazing…

This article raises several opinions to thoroughly carry the spirit of the Sixteenth Party Congress, adapt to the requirements of the new situation and tasks, completely raise the ideological and moral quality of minors, and further strengthen and improve the development of ideology and morality among minors. Strengthening and improving the…