The escalation of youth violence is one of the major public health concerns of the United States. Many factors today make juveniles more likely to commit, or to become victims of, violent acts. Drugs, the availability of guns, and the emergence of gang problems in all regions of the country are among the causes of youth violence. Prevention of…

This book is written about youth gangs with the aim of educating teachers and administrators, parents, and others who work with youth. The main emphasis is on gang identifiers and positive behavior management strategies and crisis intervention techniques that can be used in schools and the home. Section 1, "Youth Gangs Past and Present," provides…

The Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations of the House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform and Oversight met to consider the causes of and solutions to teen pregnancy and the role of community organizations in prevention efforts. Opening remarks by Representative Christopher Shays were followed by statements…

Describes community experiential education programs that empower local citizens to work with city planners in deciding the future direction of their urban neighborhoods. Questions whether such programs are true catalysts for social change when participants return to their home environments without a support system that values or utilizes learned…

Details a qualitative, descriptive study of three participants in the African American Achievers Youth Corps, Inc., a program matching at-risk African American middle school and high school males with adult mentors. These case studies indicate that caring and supportive behaviors of adults can improve the self-esteem and academic achievement of…

Considers autobiographical works by African American authors, Gwendolyn Brooks and Ronald Fair. Incorporates these works into an interdisciplinary lesson plan concerning black themes, personal identity, and urban history. Includes teaching suggestions, lesson objectives, discussion questions, and other activities. (MJP)

This report, second in a series of eight, highlights some of the findings from two recent surveys of the opinions of adult Californians on products and policies affecting youth tobacco use. The specific focus is on public perceptions of the role of the media in affecting youth tobacco consumption. The surveys were conducted in October and November…

This handbook provides information about gangs for education professionals working with immigrants. As the introduction makes clear, gangs are one of the many problems that newly arrived immigrants face in their neighborhoods and at school in the United States. Following the introduction, the first section describes the types of gangs including…

One hundred fifty-one urban ninth grade students participated in an investigation of the effect of differentiated content in two congruent tests of reading. A congruent test was constructed by substituting information relevant to junior high school students within the parameters of a nonrelevant, standardized state test of reading. By maintaining…

An investigation sought to identify student characteristics and behaviors as they related to work habits, classroom disturbances, and dependence on the teacher, in the foreign language classroom. It is suggested that such data are useful in planning teaching methods. (AM)

Presents youth employment as the principal casualty of cities' transformation from manufacturing- to service-oriented economies. They have been squeezed out of growth sectors and are increasingly employed in retail industries with few opportunities to work with adults or acquire meaningful skills. School-based interventions are proposed. (SA)

Adolescents have no prepared, appreciated, approved place in society, so they tackle identity formation and development of self-worth and self-efficacy on their own. Society must change its view that youth are troubled or harmful and instead provide opportunities for meaningful roles for adolescents, particularly those without many years of formal…

Examines African American youth's encounters with three forms of violence--eyewitnessing, victimization, and participation--to determine its spread in urban schools, the types of violence encountered, the sociodemographic factors associated with the encounter types, and whether there is any overlap among those who witness, are victims of, and…

Despite the critical failure of many urban schools to educate poor children and children of color, there are examples of schools and teachers who help students meet challenging academic standards in a supportive, culturally responsive, and empowering context. This paper represents one such success story of a teacher's efforts to nurture his…

Vocational educators and special needs personnel face many challenges as they address the educational needs of urban youth and update vocational programs in large inner city school districts. Vocational education programs must take a holistic approach to meet the needs of a wide range of disadvantaged students. Demographic projections of increased…