The subcultures of school and experiential learning sites and perspectives from cultural anthropology are discussed, along with a program in applied humanities and Chicano studies. In "The Internship Process: A Cultural Model," Sharon Rubin considers the process of moving from the college student subculture to that of the internship…

Proceedings of a 1980 conference in Australia on the problems of first-year students, which focus on student discontinuation, are presented. The contents include three papers, discussion group reports, and a report on the outcome of the discussion groups, policy proposals, and recommendations. In "First Year Students: Selection and…

Argues that freshman seminar class reunions increase the benefits of freshman seminars for urban commuter college students, and reports results of a study testing effectiveness of class reunions in reducing attrition for high-risk students (n=40). Findings support hypothesis that freshmen seminar groups with class reunions show greater student…

Recounts the story of a fifth grader who decides he wants to be returned to the fourth grade. Describes parental reaction and actions of parents and school administration to determine best placement. Describes the child's satisfaction, personal adjustment, and academic success three years after decision to repeat part of fourth grade. (KB)

Focuses on factors that can contribute to stress in young children due to family relocation and strategies to smooth the transition. (BB)

This article focuses on competencies needed for children's transitions from preschool special education programs to the primary grades, with a focus on literacy-rich classroom environments. The competencies concern: readiness to maximize academic achievement, social skills, and appropriate responsiveness to various instructional styles and new…

Within the context of increasing cultural diversity, colleges and universities face new challenges and opportunities in attempting to forge a community, both on campus and in society at large. Community-building efforts must address the following: proliferation of campus affinity groups; facilitation of constructive intergroup relations; emergence…

Examined influences of friends and friendships on adjustment to junior high school via self-reports, peer nominations, teacher ratings, and school records. Found that sociability and leadership increased if students had high-quality friendships, and behavior problems increased if students had friends with behavioral problems. Separate and…

Schedules, characteristics, and wellness needs of community college students are often very different from those of traditional college students, and wellness programs at these institutions have an important impact on students' lives, both during and after the college experience. Issues to be considered include assessment of the needs of a diverse…

Discusses institutional practices that spring from empirically grounded forces that influence students' social integration and retention. Presents 20 recommendations for implementation in 8 domains of institutional practice: academic advising, administrative policies and practices, enrollment management, faculty development, faculty reward system,…

Classifies 47 recommendations gleaned from the articles appearing in this special issue according to their consistency with Tinto's three principles of effective student retention. Orders recommendations by the institutional domain most likely to implement them. Views the recommendations as multiple, powerful levers to reduce college student…

The focus on parent participation in the Australian school community has intensified over the last few years, but both parents and teachers still hold many erroneous notions with regard to their shared responsibilities. Rather than viewing parents and teachers as two separate camps with children in the middle, it must be recognized that…

The subject of regionalization or the consolidation of schools has been a major issue of discussion and educational research for the past 15 years. A fact that has come out of the research is that consolidation is expensive. Yet, some observers continue to recommend consolidating the remaining school districts. When schools are closed, children…

The complex problems affecting the transition from secondary to postsecondary education are reviewed by an educator who works with black students from a small, Catholic high school. The following adjustments that students face in college are discussed: a change in the way a student is taught and learns, new levels of responsibility and…

Colleges and universities have failed to meet the unique educational needs of Native American students, whose attrition rates are far in excess of those of other students. These students must come to terms with their cultural identity while functioning within the culturally alien framework presented by the school. Federally funded programs have…