The attitudes of 193 teacher candidates at a rural university toward teaching in urban schools were studied. In spite of their lack of experience and preparation for teaching urban students, many were willing, although not eager, to teach in urban schools in order to have a job. (SLD)

Discusses issues and problems in the development and implementation of multicultural education programs, focusing on how a group of educators sought to help early childhood teachers deal with the increasing number of intergroup conflicts among their pupils. These educators developed a multicultural education resource book. (SLD)

Focusing on the efforts of seven teachers involved in a mathematics curriculum reform program in three housing projects ("The Bricks") in Cleveland (Ohio), this article examines the contexts of reform. Cultural conflicts between students and teachers and barriers to full teacher commitment to reform hampered project implementation. (SLD)

Studies problems of 69 traditionally prepared and 162 alternatively certified first-year elementary school teachers in Houston (Texas). Results show that alternatively certified teachers appear to have more problems after two months, but differences disappear by eight months, supporting the utility of alternative certification. (SLD)

Studied a pilot program to give preservice teachers a broader look at the lives of children by placing the teachers with community service agencies to work with staff serving low-income parents and children from diverse backgrounds. Preliminary evaluation indicates that most preservice teachers expanded their views about families served by social…

Introduces the new journal, "Educators for Urban Minorities," and explains the crisis looming in urban education as teacher shortages increase, and academic and professional standards for teachers are raised. Describes efforts made by Long Island University to help their linguistically and culturally diverse student body meet the…

Thirteen urban educators teaching from 1st through 12th grade selected from 7 cities across the United States were interviewed in this qualitative research study to determine if the classroom management strategies they use reflect the research on culturally responsive teaching. Participants revealed using several management strategies that reflect…

This article provides an opportunity to extend the discussion about teacher communities as part of complex school reform models, specifically centered on those communities whose membership is drawn on a semi-voluntary basis. Through a sixteen-month long ethnography, I document the activities of an urban teacher professional community (TPC) at a…

The state of Ohio wants to take charter schools to a whole new level: colleges of education. The state department of education is seeking to establish teacher-preparation schools that are free from state regulations so long as they produce high-quality teachers--a variation on the concept that has led to the creation of more than 3,000 K-12…

What teaching practices foster inquiry and promote students to learn challenging subject matter in urban schools? Inquiry-based instruction and successful inquiry learning and teaching in project-based science (PBS) were described in previous studies (Brown & Campione, [1990]; Crawford, [1999]; Krajcik, Blumenfeld, Marx, Bass, & Fredricks,…

Urban public schools and their teachers are under siege. From increased standardization, privatization and testing to a growing number of students whose needs are not being met by schools, urban public school teachers face a daunting task. Without a space in which to critically examine their daily experiences within schools, many well-intentioned…

How can the "revolving door" at the nation's high-poverty schools be slowed down? How can diversity be taught in teacher preparation that relates to teaching and learning? How can teachers learn to use the diverse urban classroom as a rich asset? By focusing on reconceptualizing general education studies, addressing key urban understanding and…

This article reports the findings of a collective case study of 2 low-performing, predominantly minority urban schools. The research shows that principals were able to improve the quality of parent-teacher relationships using multidimensional strategies that addressed the needs of teachers and parents. The findings suggest that strategies to…

This book tells the stories of two young male first-grade teachers in an urban public school. From the perspective of a white male teacher, the book describes the complexities of establishing a personal and professional relationship with a co-teacher of different ethnicity (Hispanic American) and somewhat different philosophy, and the difficulties…

A hearing before the oversight committee for the District of Columbia (D.C.) public schools provided the opportunity for several senators and educators to comment on the progress of educational reform in the District's public schools. The hearing was held at a time when the opening of the city's public schools was delayed because of their many…