Planning ideas and follow-up activities are described for a reciprocal exchange program between groups of 5th and 6th grade students in Manitoba who are "twinned" with another school in the province. Emphasis is on providing learning experiences which help students become familiar with the economic activity in the area, with the local government…

This is the first of a four-part study, funded by the National Institute of Education for the purpose of examining the function of informal social networks in school community relations in Pontiac, Michigan, from 1971 to 1981. This volume of the report (1) discusses the theoretical foundations of the study; (2) defends the validity of network…

Letters to the editor, one of the major ways citizens can respond to, and possibly even influence, public policy decisions, are good examples of public discourse. Those who take the time to write guest editorials or letters to the editor hope to go beyond self-expression to communication. They hope to influence the beliefs and attitudes, and even…

A description is offered of a project successfully carried out by a community college with the aim of bringing together students, local government officials, academicians, and other voters to discuss issues. A television-plus-forum framework made it possible to link resources with problems, academicians with practitioners. (Author/AJ)

Though it has been a much publicized national process for a full generation, racial desegregation of the public schools has not received sustained and rigorous evaluation. This report is an attempt to assess the quality and characteristics of community oriented case studies on school desegregation. The search strategy for accessibility and…

This paper focuses on both conceptual and methodological issues involved in the utilization of different need assessment strategies. Among the strategies discussed are: (1) key informant; (2) community forum; (3) service utilization; (4) social indicators; and (5) citizen survey. Each of these more commonly used need assessment strategies: (1) has…

As part of a feasibility study for postsecondary alternatives in California, this report details what the project staff learned through first- hand conversations with California citizens about their educational hopes and the obstacles they face in seeking to realize their aspirations. Concentrating on seven diverse communities throughout the…

This community analysis was conducted in order to characterize and identify the information needs of the Wakefield community, and library services and use were evaluated to determine how well the library meets these needs. The study included an examination of the history of the town and its physical characteristics, economic development, and…

This resource guide is written for Head Start Directors, Component Coordinators, other staff and parents who share in the task of developing program plans. In the introduction, the concept of participatory management is defined. Advantages and disadvantages of participatory management and required skills for the effective use of participatory…

This analysis of the community was designed to identify the needs of its citizens so that the Washington County Public Library could plan more responsive library services. Sections described the physical and historical aspects of the community; demographic characteristics of its population, including age, sex, education, employment status and…

THIS REPORT OF A FIELD STUDY DESCRIBES THE CONFLICT WHICH RESULTED FROM SCHOOL DESEGREGATION EFFORTS IN 1956 IN MANSFIELD, TEXAS. THIS WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE WHICH WAS ORDERED TO DESEGREGATE. THE REPORT IS IN TWO PARTS--(1) BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE COMMUNITY AND A CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS, AND (2) PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS BY ONE OF…

Papers presented at an April 1977 workshop assessing the growing interest in making local materials the subject of study in the humanities are provided. Section I contains three background papers: "The Local-Global Studies Paradox," by John Badgley; "Community History: The Roots of the Problem," by D'Ann Campbell; and "An…

In order to demonstrate to the Federal Communications Commission that they were serving the needs of the public the two public television stations in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) commissioned an interview study of "voiceless" groups in the community. The first step was to identify those groups which had common…

While fear of crime is endemic to American society, certain individuals are more likely than others to express concern for their safety. Using data from the 1974 NORC General Survey (N=1,484), this study examines age and other demographic characteristics of respondents who answered affirmatively to the question "Is there any area around here, that…

This book is a collection of 14 papers that grew out of activities and conferences of the Committee for Community Research of the International Sociological Association. All of the papers reflect a general concern for establishing an international basis for the study of local political power and decision-making. The various authors attempt to…