In this plenary discussion, Dr. Chao presents his research framework and reflections from engaging in Digital Mathematics Storytelling within Black, Asian American, and Asian American communities in multiple countries. The framework, based heavily around storytelling, counter-storytelling, and Critical Race Theory, has been employed as a workshop…

In its simplest form, what is thought of as community is a group of people coming together on the basis of something shared for the benefit of the community. To imagine this form of community, people must reconstruct it as a memory from a prehistoric time in which they lived in harmony with other people. But as they have not experienced this…

In this paper the physical characteristics of community sites that are common gathering places for adolescents are described and recommendations are given for improving their use. It is suggested that there are some common factors in the society and in the organization of many towns and cities in the United States that contribute to the appearance…

An educator was encouraged to examine the community that sometimes, "almost magically," forms in classrooms. Particularly, she wanted to research what or who fosters such communal spaces for students and how educators might harness those forces to become more adept at community building. Her findings forced her to reevaluate her own…

Three dimensions of the relationship between children and their communities that have been identified are (1) children's sense of community as it develops from infancy through middle childhood, (2) characteristics of a competent community, and (3) the interaction between children's developmental growth and community resources. Children's sense of…

Spanish usage by a large segment of the United States' population has created concern that English language and middle class culture are being displaced. Research in the 1970s found, generally, that Spanish-speaking people were indeed undergoing linguistic and cultural assimilation. However, widespread use of Spanish by the government in education…

Before unconditionally supporting the development of closer community or the restoration of a public realm, communication scholars should further reflect on the historical uses and potential threats attendant to this task. A sense of nostalgia sometimes romanticizes the Greek "polis" while sidestepping the changes wrought by population…

Growing recognition by government that social services cannot be for the poor alone has led to a series of laws appropriating Federal funds for services to different categories of clients. The rapid expansion in public spending, however, has created a fragmented system marked by lack of coordination among its components. The impersonality of this…

Describes the cluster system of targeted marketing analysis, which uses geodemographic analysis to develop understanding of communities at the micro level. Characteristics of some types of neighborhoods found in the United States are described and the use of this approach by librarians conducting community analyses is discussed. (CLB)

Since a discourse community may have its membership assigned both on the basis of speech or of writing, it follows that the concept of discourse community needs to be both medium-neutral and unconstrained by space and time. The defining characteristics of a discourse community might be (1) communality of interest, (2) mechanisms for…

The traditional conception of rural as homogeneously agricultural has become archaic. This paper reviews definitions of rural diversity related to rural special education and proposes a broad definition based upon culture of community and region. In the late 1970s, the National Rural Project identified "problems" in rural special…

While it is not the intent of the paper to portray the rural school jurisdictions as completely riven and incapacitated by conflicting interests, a very strong implication emerging from studies of these school systems is that "integrative" management policies and strategies are needed to counteract the fragmentation which has been…

The paper focuses on the differences which characterize rural schools and suggests ways in which teacher preparation programs might train beginning teachers specifically for rural schools. Section 1 describes ways in which teacher preparation programs can help prospective teachers prepare for the breadth of responsibilities expected in rural…

Researchers construct a cost of education index and, using Missouri data, estimate differences across school districts in the cost of teachers, administrators, and transportation services. Components of the conceptual framework for the index include salaries, variables within a district's control (such as personnel characteristics or the number of…

This paper summarizes the discussion from a forum to explore a logical and feasible means by which South Florida could reach its carrying capacity and experience no further growth. The opening presentation explained the relationships among (1) the area's land, water, and natural ecosystems, (2) natural sources of energy and imported fuels, (3)…