Argues for creation of learner-centered schools where children's early passion for learning can be nurtured and sustained. Discusses role of parents and teachers in providing students with learner-centered education environment. (PKP)

The poor performance of students in America's urban high schools, both in absolute terms and in comparison with their more economically secure counterparts in suburban schools, is a critical issue for the country, and the opportunity for all students to learn mathematics has been heralded as the new "civil right." In a recent study of…

Herbert L. Foster has written a new book about teaching black youngsters in the inner city. A Kappan interviewer extracts some of his success secrets, among them the rules for life-or-death contests. (Editor)

Comments on educational reforms instituted at a Brooklyn high school including flexible modular scheduling, cyclical programing learning for mastery, and independent study. (JF)

Declining financial resources necessitate the reevaluation of educational priorities. Those who see the urban problem as financial urge the maintenance of a balanced school budget and suggest new sources of revenue. This view's shortcomings include a lack of social compassion and failure to recognize the problem of racial discrimination.

Describes how a neglected Boston middle school transformed itself into an inviting, tree-lined campus with comfortable reading and study areas and an exemplary physical education program. Project Adventure is an intense six-week physical training course that teaches advanced rock-climbing skills. With classmates' encouragement, participants…

Uses four case studies to illustrate differences in task engagement in 12 students in two "exemplary" sixth-grade science classrooms. Not all students are likely to benefit from improvements in science programs that provide increased opportunities for meaningful learning. For students whose personal agendas were indifferent to achieving…

The surest way to improve schooling for 12 million children in poverty is to get them better teachers. The problem is selection, not training. "Star" urban teachers persistently engage their students, protect and enhance student learning opportunities, easily apply generalizations, succeed despite students' life conditions, genuinely respect…

With its inadequate training methods and disregard for teaching and learning knowledge base, Wendy Kopp's Teach for America (TFA) program continues a long tradition of devaluing urban students and deprofessionalizing teaching. One elementary school principal found that recruits lacked teaching skills and were not really dedicated to meeting…

Paul Ciotti's monograph "Money and School Performance" exposing the "desegregation debacle" in Kansas City (Missouri) Public Schools is an improperly aimed salvo in the "money matters" debate. Actually, money should not be thrown at politically dysfunctional schools with incompetent teachers, administrators, and board…

Most predominantly black urban schools are considered inferior, dangerous, and ignorable. Black students attending predominantly white suburban schools are marginalized, deculturalized, academically tracked, and disproportionately disciplined. Those left behind in inner-city schools become "problem students." Due to funding inequities,…

Reports on a two-year study of magnet schools evaluating educational quality and desegregation. Findings show that magnet schools can improve the quality of education in urban school districts. (MD)

Before urban educators can teach work values to their students, they must first stop reinforcing youngsters' antiwork attitudes and their self-defeating "street" ideology. Teachers must stop relying on "nowness," or relevant, fun-time activities and work with students and parents to counter youngsters' passivity, excuse-making,…

Novice teachers who perform student teaching in exemplary schools only are inadequately prepared for classroom circumstances found in typical city schools. Preparation programs should place students in model classrooms in typical schools; provide a "dual school" experience, alternating model schools with more typical ones; or assign…