A teacher's journal reflects her experience of designing and teaching writing courses at a Massachusetts alternative high school for high-risk students, her experience of using writing for personal healing, and the resistance she encountered when encouraging students to use writing as a means for personal growth and overcoming trauma. (LP)

This paper explores the recent two decades of school reform efforts and focuses on application of the Effective Schools movement's ideas in urban, economically depressed communities. Five common characteristics of effective schools are teacher and other staff who believe that all children can learn; safe, orderly, and work-oriented environments;…

This book provides an account of life in the inner city from World War II to the present. Poor, jobless, and racially outcast young black people are economically and socially excluded from the American mainstream. To compensate for this, inner-city children turn to American traditions of consumerism and violence. Buying into the implicit message…

This paper looks at the successful initiatives and unforeseen problems that have arisen in Massachusetts public education since the passage of the Public School Improvement Act of 1985, with a focus on the needs of Hispanic Americans. There is overwhelming evidence that the specific needs of Hispanic Americans are neither being identified nor met…

The Mayor of Columbus, Tom Moody, spoke on his views of CETA, unemployment, and vocational education. In his opinion, all required and most optional education should be vocational education; that is, it should equip people to be able to support themselves, to earn a living, and to be productive in our society. He pointed out several…

The crisis of dropping out among Latino high school students points directly to the important role that teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, and community groups can play in creating for each student a vision of the future that includes postsecondary education. The Five Cities High School Dropout Study, which documents the effect of key…

Contends that urban violence involves not only acts against individuals but also systemic violence perpetrated against the ethnic-minority poor. Argues that this systemic violence is a form of human rights violation. Maintains that moral educators should utilize a human rights perspective in curriculum planning. (CFR)

These papers represent applications of linguistics in Australian Aboriginal contexts, not only from a language viewpoint, but encompassing the interactions of language, society, politics, and culture. They include: "Loanwords: Ours or Theirs?" (Velma J. Leeding); "We Spell It 'Gooniyandi'" (David Street and Topsy Chestnut);…

Explores the role of parent involvement and bilingual education in improving the educational experience of language minority students, particularly in urban settings. Asks whether parent involvement is a feasible solution, and looks at the chance that bilingual education will decrease dropouts and empower students. (JB)

This series of nine reports reviews available information on the special needs and concentrated problems of youth employment. (It constitutes the second of a three-volume compendium; other volumes examine causes and dimensions of youth employment problems and analyze program experience--see note.) The effects of discrimination on minority youth…

The New York City Board of Education formed the Latino Commission on Educational Reform to examine issues of concern to Latino children who comprise an increasing segment of the students in the public school system. An interim report was submitted on the dropout rate, curriculum and instruction, support services, parent and community empowerment,…

This document consists of transcripts of testimony presented at Congressional hearings concerning Title II of the Youth Act of 1980. The provisions of the act include extending the authorization of youth training and employment programs and improving such programs; extending the authorization of the private sector initiative program; and…