This ERIC Digest examines how changing family patterns have affected the full-day/half-day kindergarten issue, discussing why schools are currently considering alternative scheduling and describing the advantages and disadvantages of each type of program. The following changing family patterns affecting the choice of full-day kindergarten programs…

Smaller families in general (including the one-child option) are becoming more popular. This ERIC Digest focuses on changing trends in family size, reasons for choosing to have only one child, differences between only children and those with siblings, and the advantages of being an only child. Changing family patterns, economic concerns, and new…

Since the 1920s, the focus of adult education has shifted from social change to professionalization to an emphasis on literacy and lifelong learning in a changing workplace. The adult education literature reflects ongoing debate over whether adult education should focus primarily on individuals or society and whether it should serve as a means of…

To what extent was social change on center stage during adult education's formative years? Whose vision embraced social change and whose did not? What factors led to the decline of social action as a goal of adult education, and what factors suggest renewed interest in social goals? This paper examines these questions, beginning in the 1920s with…

This ERIC digest discusses the Education for Democratic Citizenship in Poland (EDCP) project, a cooperative effort of the Polish Ministry of National Education, the Mershon Center at The Ohio State University, and the Bureau for Civic Education in Local Control Schools at Warsaw, Poland. The digest discusses the background of the project, the…

People working in the area of early childhood, either as practitioners or as advocates, are often faced with the task of trying to make sense of federal and state policies. Adopting the approach that an historical perspective is necessary in order to understand the social context in which change or attempted change occurs, this paper presents a…

This paper looks at the involvement of parents in child care programs from an historical point of view and offers suggestions on how a partnership between parents and programs can be implemented. In response to immigration and economic depression, initial child care programs were focused on the child's potential for development, opportunities for…

Adult illiteracy is a complex, costly, and growing social problem. Three common areas of controversy related to the problem are: (1) definitions of adult literacy, (2) characteristics of illiterate adults, and (3) the purposes of literacy education. Illiteracy can be understood only in relation to a culture's definition of literacy. Due to…

The ongoing process of developing new academic programs is slow, and the process by which this gradual reshaping occurs involves all aspects of the institution of higher education. The overlap of innovation in organizations, strategic planning, and program evaluation is important in this development. Administrators, trustees, and faculty members…

This document highlights progress in sex equity over the past 15 years, examines the current status and trends, and describes the role of counselors and educators as change agents in reducing sex bias. (NB)

This compilation of four papers provides an overview of recent developments in communications technologies and suggests how these developments will affect adult, career, and vocational education. Following an introduction, by Juliet V. Miller, that both summarizes each of the papers and synthesizes the information presented, the first paper, by…

This digest provides a critique of the various educational strategies that have been used with Latino students and suggests alternatives that may be more successful. Many educators acknowledge that the reasons for the historic academic underachievement of Latino students could be inappropriate cognitive, cultural, and linguistic teaching methods.…

This digest summarizes in a question and answer format a full length report of the same title. It addresses the importance of recruiting minority students for diversity at institutions of higher education. Noted are increasing numbers for these groups along with the current low education levels found among minorities and the potential shortage of…

Criticism of education has brought with it a reduction in the status of the teaching profession. The effects of this on faculty have been worsened by changes in career rewards and responsibilities brought about by the economic problems of higher education institutions. Colleges can no longer overlook the needs of faculty. Both life cycles and…

Discussion of national language policy concerning adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) education examines conditions in American demographics and adult education, looks at kinds of policy required to meet predicted educational needs, and encourages ESL educators to become involved in the policy formation process. The first section discusses…