(1981). Is Higher Education Fair? Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Research into Higher Education (17th, Guildford, Surrey, England, December 1981). Various forms of bias in the British higher education system are examined in ten papers presented at a conference on "Biases in Higher Education." After an introduction by David Warren Piper, Tyrrell Burgess links the Popperian paradigm of scientfic method to the practical possibility of a nonexclusive education system. In "Bias Is of the Essence," he examines the theory of knowledge and learning that would eliminate the systematic biases of the system. Bill Williamson in "Class Bias" compares the class structure of the British system with that of other European countries, and claims that higher education, and the universities in particular, play a decisive role in structuring demand for places. John Richardson, writing on "Geographical Bias," draws on work from counties where geographical distances are so great that the effect on people's chances of becoming students in more obvious than on a small island. He suggests that the principal…
(1981). Comprehensive Affirmative Action for Equal Educational Opportunity in the Racially Isolated and Predominantly White Suburban School District. This manual contains information to help predominantly white suburban school systems achieve racial integration and provide equal education and equal employment opportunities. The manual advocates a comprehensive approach that would direct affirmative action at students, curricular and extracurricular programs, all phases of employment, and public policy affecting housing. One section of the manual discusses the Constitutional and statutory basis of equal education and equal employment opportunity. Two succeeding sections describe the evolution of court litigation concerning discrimination in education and in employment. Another section provides suggestions for planning and implementing an equal education/equal employment opportunity program in racially segregated suburban schools by identifying factors essential to successful desegregation programs and describing how to develop an affirmative action policy and program. A final section discusses how, in a comprehensive approach,… [PDF]
(1978). Minimum Competence As An Individual Right. After reviewing three current approaches to handling students who fail to meet minimum competency standards, the author proposes a new approach to minimum competency testing. The three common reactions are: (1) doing nothing to help failing students; (2) denying students their high school diplomas; and (3) requiring students to take remedial courses before receiving their diplomas. To avoid the punitive nature of these reactions, the author suggests that meeting minimum competency standards be viewed as an individual's right, if these standards represent skills which one needs to survive in contemporary society. The mechanism for establishing this right involves issuing a certificate to any state resident who meets standards set by the appropriate state agency. This certificate is separate from a high school diploma, which local school districts would continue to award according to standards they had set. Every resident who could not meet the minimum standards would have the right…
(1977). The Equal Rights Amendment in Washington State: An Analysis and Interpretation of Voting Patterns. A study was undertaken in Washington state to investigate voting behavior on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was approved by Washington state voters in 1972. Specifically, research objectives were to determine who was for or against the ERA, to assess the nature of objections to the ERA, and to consider implications of the ERA for family relationships. A random sample of over 800 Washington state residents was interviewed by telephone in December 1972. Information was obtained on respondents' age, sex, marital status, occupation, education, family size, political and religious affiliation, and vote (or attitude) regarding the ERA. Findings indicated that men were more favorable toward the ERA than women; single and divorced respondents were more favorable than were married respondents; young were more favorable than old; white collar workers were more favorable than blue collar workers; and individuals with more education were more favorable than those with less education…. [PDF]
(1980). The Kent State Coverup. A definitive account of the May 4, 1970 Kent State shootings and the trial that followed is presented by the lawyer who served as chief counsel for the 13 victims. Part One, "The Long Road to the Cleveland Courthouse," provides all the information on the victims, the shootings, and preparation for the trial. Part Two, "At Last, Our Day in Court," describes the case presented by the victims' lawyers, which took more than 10 weeks of trial and involved 69 witnesses. Part Three presents the defense case, which took five days and involved 18 witnesses. In Part Four, "Summing Up an American Tragedy," the rebuttal by the lawyers for the prosecution, the closing remarks, and the judge's instructions to the jury are examined. The final part reveals the verdict of the jury which acquitted Governor Rhodes, the Ohio National Guard, and the former President of Kent State University of charges brought against them. It is suggested that there was a payoff and…
(1977). The Most Significant Educational Research Contributions of the Past Ten Years. Occasional Paper 16. This document reports on a \mini-conference\ on the contributions of educational research in the past ten years. Significant research projects in the following eight major areas are identified: (1) human development and learning; (2) teaching; (3) equality, inequality, and human rights; (4) educational finance; (5) educational administration; (6) educational technology; (7) program improvement and assessment; and (8) research methodology. Specific papers and research projects in each of these areas are cited. The contributions touch a great number of topical areas such as characteristics of learners, preparation of professionals, longitudinal studies of educational effects, educational objectives, and moral values. The listing offers a range of problem-solving strategies available to educators and the appropriateness of each strategy for resolving problems. (JD)… [PDF]
(1979). The Mexican Americans. For more than 400 years the ancestors of the Mexican American have contributed to the spiritual and material wealth of this land, yet recognition of their cultural and national rights has been slow to come. Like the American Indians, Chicanos can claim, "We did not come to America, America came to us". As a conquered people, they have been repressed by the dominant society. Mexican Americans can trace their ancestry back to the Spanish conquistadores who subjugated the Aztec. From the blending of the two cultures came the Mestizo population. It was the Mestizos and Mexicans, rather than the Spaniards, who settled the American Southwest; but most of the millions of acres of rich lands granted by the Spanish Land Grants were lost after the U.S. victory in the Mexican American War. Some Mexican Americans worked as laborers on the large farms or ranches; others migrated to the cities and settled in the barrios. From within the barrios has come the growth of the Chicano…
(1979). Consumer Education: A Teaching-Learning Unit on the Rights and Responsibilities of all Consumers and Special Problems of Elderly Consumers, Poor Consumers, Handicapped Consumers, Non-English Speaking Consumers and Nonreaders, Minors. To help high school students understand the role of consumers in the everyday world, the teaching guide presents objectives and activities related to seven consumer topics. Topics are rights and responsibilities of all consumers, common transportation concerns of consumers with special problems, and problems which particularly affect consumers who are elderly, poor, handicapped, non-English speaking and/or illiterate, and under age. For each topic, information is presented on the background of the particular consumer group, in addition to objectives and activities. Objectives are that students should be able to list rights and responsibilities of various groups of consumers; identify local, state, and federal agencies which protect consumers; compute the best buy among consumer products; list problems caused by having very little discretionary income; list ways of helping solve problems of various consumer groups; and name laws that have been passed to help various groups of…
(1976). The Impact of Legal and Administrative Remedies to Overcome Discrimination in Employment. Final Report. This study examines the effectiveness of specific attempts to remedy employment discrimination against minorities through litagation and contract compliance efforts. Further, its objective is to identify factors underlying the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of court decisions and out-of-court settlements in producing changes in minority employment patterns. Special attention is given to the construction and shipbuilding industries and to the issues of hiring, union entry, upgrading, and seniority systems. To advance an understanding of the dynamics of combatting employment discrimination, the authors present a new conceptual framework for interpreting activity in this field. The authors suggest that conclusions and recommendations drawn could be of interest to attorneys, judges, minority organizations, and government agencies attempting to remedy employment discrimination. (Author)… [PDF]
(1975). Equalization–A Report on Compliance with Two Court Decisions in the District of Columbia: Final Report; [and] A Critique of "A Quest for Equal Educational Opportunity in a Major Urban School District: The Case of Washington, D.C.". This report, concerning compliance, with the l967 and l971 court decisions on equal educational opportunity in the District of Columbia, summarizes the results of the first part of a two-part study, which examines the District of Columbia's Public School systems experiences resulting from the decrees on equalization expenditures in the elementary school. Citing the examination of the court's influence on educational policy as a major objective, the report examines topics such as court orders, the district's response, what happened in the schools, and alternatives to the decree, including the establishment of a centralized information system, a single equalization office, and suggested procedures for their accomplishment. Although court intervention is said to have ended the"tracking system", along with a reduction in overcrowding in one area of the city, integration of faculty, and improvements in both the data base and the allocation of resources, the educational… [PDF]
(1975). A Critique of "A Quest for Equal Educational Opportunity in a Major Urban School District: The Case of Washington, D.C.". This critique by the District of Columbia's Public School System of a report said to represent an attempt to evaluate the experiences of the District of Columbia Public School System in its effort to comply with a court decision, which ordered the system to equalize per pupil expenditures in the elementary school, presents highlights of particular problems with the report and purportedly offers information clarifying some of the so-called misleading interpretations made. Sections entitled societal context, educational considerations, equalization implementation procedures, analysis of the impact of equalization, fundamental questions, and conclusion, are said to refute pertinent data in the evaluation report while clarifying the District's position. Procedural recommendations made in the original evaluation report were said to be already in effect, except for those considered either irrelevant to the court order, or those that would have required an infusion of unavailable…
(1976). Busing Students to Correct Segregation. Message from the President of the United States…94th Congress, 2nd Session. House Document No. 94-540. This document contains a presidential draft of proposed legislation to establish procedures and standards for the framing of relief in suits to desegregate the nation's elementary and secondary public schools. Other purposes include the provision of assistance to voluntary desegregation efforts and the establishment of a national community and education committee to provide assistance to encourage and facilitate constructive and comprehensive community involvement and planning in the desegregation of schools. The bill would establish for federal courts specific guidelines concerning the use of busing in school desegregation cases. It would require the court to determine the extent to which acts of unlawful discrimination by governmental officials have caused a greater degree of racial concentration in a school or school system than would have existed in the absence of such acts. The bill would prohibit a court from ordering busing throughout an entire school system simply for the… [PDF]
(1976). Student Rights and Responsibilities Revisited: Current Trends in School Policies and Programs. Because recent legislation and court decisions have expanded the rights of all students, schools of the 70s must educate them about the responsibilities that go with these newly recognized rights. A nationwide survey indicates that many schools have established grievance procedures based on open communication and clearly stated policies. And many have taken steps to ensure due process in suspension and expulsion and to safeguard confidentiality of student records. The report looks at the old issues of student government, the student press, and student discipline. The implications of Title IX and the legal responsibility of school board members for ensuring student rights are described. Useful as a handbook of dissemination techniques, the report is illustrated with samples from the content and graphics of student rights codes. (Author/MLF)…
(1975). The Law of Suspension and Expulsion: An Examination of the Substantive Issues in Controlling Student Conduct. NOLPE Second Monograph Series, Number Seven. ERIC/CEM State-of-the-Knowledge Series, Number Thirty-Two. Student protest and misconduct have frequently resulted in the suspension or expulsion of a student. This monograph examines the school's authority to suspend or expel a student, with the purpose of determining when such an action is permissible and when it is prohibited because it infringes on a student's constitutional and, sometimes, statutory rights. The procedural issues that arise when the school has decided to remove a student are not included. Issues discussed include demonstrations, publications and underground newspapers, weapons on school grounds, school property damage, personal appearance, student marital and/or parental status, and out-of-school conduct. (Author/MLF)… [PDF]
(1974). Juvenile Justice. This curriculum manual provides information, raises issues and questions of controversy, and suggests certain learning activities which will acquaint high school students with the law as it affects their lives both in school and in the community. Questions discussed in the section called Youth in School include truancy, freedom of expression, personal appearance, and due process. Topics discussed under Juveniles and the Law include the juvenile court and other aspects of juvenile justice. A third section approaches the underlying principles of authority and respect upon which the justice system rests and delves into ways of changing the system. Real and hypothetical case studies focusing on the inquiry approach to learning are presented. Also included are readings, role-playing simulation games, and other types of classroom activities. Each topic covered in the manual is designed so that a maximum of flexibility is possible regarding lesson plans. Class time spent in study and…