Reports on a study of the writing skills of 51 Italian fourth graders who used word processors for several months. Concludes that word processing can help motivate children and teachers to do more writing and that further improvement in writing skills would occur if the children received writing instruction. (CFR)

Reports on a study of 43 Italian fifth-graders about their understanding of the functions of banks and the role of monetary interest in banking before and after a lesson on banking. Finds that most children could speak correctly about both deposit and loan interest and their relative amounts after the lesson. (CFR)

Presents a number of brief reports on the latest trends and current circumstances surrounding African American progress in higher education. Discussions include an analysis of financial barriers, Harvard's push for diversification, academic citation systems and black scholarship, and the 1993 court ruling on Dr. Leonard Jeffries and Afrocentrism.…

Provides trend data on the progress of African American representation in U.S. institutions of higher education. Statistics are presented in the areas of educational equality, racial segregation in higher education, racial differences in college entrance test scores, graduate enrollments, and black gains in acquiring law degrees. (GLR)

Examines why blacks are vastly underrepresented on the faculties of American institutions of higher education. The authors discuss hiring and promotion discrimination, whether affirmative-action programs are flagging, blacks' disinterest in careers in higher education, and ways to remedy these problems. (GLR)

Presents a speech by Malcolm X delivered at Harvard College in March 1964. Malcolm X gives his views of the future of black community politics and presents his notion that the black vote is central to American politics. (GLR)

Discusses the use of citation analysis for ranking academic papers and its application in ranking black studies departments. The author presents results of a nationwide citation analysis--totaling 579 papers--of African American or black studies. Ranking results of black studies departments, universities, and black studies scholars are presented.…

Examines the history surrounding grade inflation at Harvard University and discusses the view that the presence of black students initiated and perpetuated the practice. The author finds no relationship between grade inflation and the presence of black students in higher education but does present alternative explanations. (GLR)

Addresses racial separatism on today's college campuses and examines why it continues to be a problem. The author explores the tension experienced by black students when seeking acceptance and hospitality within an environment that constantly reminds them of their differences and describes what some campuses are doing to become more racially…

Presents an interview with William H. Gray III who discusses the educational advantages of the nation's historically black colleges (HBCs). Subjects include increasing funding and enrollments at HBCs and the reality of confronting racism after graduation. White isolation in higher education is briefly discussed. (GLR)

Examines the integration status of college faculty and white control within historically black colleges (HBCs). The role of white professors in HBCs and the existence of discriminatory practices in hiring and promotion decisions are discussed. (GLR)

Examines the impact of affirmative-action college-admission policies on black student dropout rates in the nation's top higher education institutions. Black student dropout rate comparative data are provided that show graduation rate percentages of Ivy League schools, less-selective state universities, and historically black colleges. (GLR)

Examines the controversy over the lack of faculty diversity at Harvard Law School and highlights the school's past practices regarding hiring and promotion of minority teaching staff. The pool problem issue is discussed, and the current status of faculty diversity is presented. (GLR)

Describes the role of judges in Canadian society and the notion of judicial independence that produces complexities for educators. Looks at the characteristics and working environment of judges and describes the part played by the existing agencies involved in judicial education. Suggests potential roles for continuing education units in…

Results of a study of 88 Louisiana teachers support the construct validity of the System for Teaching and Learning Assessment and Review (STAR), a comprehensive classroom-based system for assessing teaching and learning but suggest that the use of teacher nominations of colleagues for designation as superior teachers is questionable. (SLD)