Public health nurses (n=191) were queried regarding their observations of alienation in families who abuse their children. Comparison was made of social isolation and powerlessness in abusive families and a control group of non-abusive families, through the Internal-External Locus of Control Scale and FIRO-B, with significant differences noted in…

Describes a junior high class activity called the "International Language Census," in which international students learned each other's equivalents of "good morning" and "thank you." Notes that non-American students who were socially isolated grew less shy and became occasional centers of attention. (JG)

Interviews were conducted with 104 Mexican American high school graduates and dropouts to determine why some students leave school. The interviewees reported similar family backgrounds (parental educational and occupational levels), but graduates were more likely to report having more friends, more siblings who had graduated, better overall…

Causes of inadequate educational results for poor and minority children are enumerated. Consequences of resultant increase in dropping out are listed. Solution involves tackling the following: (1) funding disparities between poor and affluent neighborhoods; (2) achievement gap between whites and minorities; (3) dearth of work-oriented programs;…

Examination of dimensions of hearing-impaired (N=8) and nondisabled (N=28) college students' participation, relationships, and feelings in a mainstreamed classroom indicated that hearing-impaired students felt isolated spacially, temporally, and culturally. Mainstreamed students' feelings were related to their own acceptance of their hearing loss…

Presents the Chicano and Black experience at UCLA. Provides an examination of differences in social backgrounds, school experiences, and the relationships between these factors and college adjustment and achievement. Findings show Blacks more likely to feel alienated and perform poorly regardless of social class status. (Author/SA)

Reports figures indicating a rise in teenage suicide in Canada. Shows how the problem is compounded by silence resulting from official and parent reactions and social taboo. Discusses some of the causes of teenage suicide and explains the role of the school and family in suicide intervention and prevention. (SB)

Since 1982, the "MetLife Survey of the American Teacher" has examined issues related to education from a variety of perspectives. Surveys in 2001 and 2002 revealed that feelings of alienation from school are prevalent among students, teachers, and parents at the secondary level, resulting in breakdown of the educational process. People do not feel…

School reform in New Zealand in the 1990s greatly affected funding strategies and school social dynamics. This paper investigates the effects of per-pupil funding and the track system on the sensibilities of students in one New Zealand secondary school. Per-pupil funding and the track system are used in an effort to attract parents (consumers) and…

This book explores parental participation in the public schools as an opportunity for personal growth and empowerment and as a source of support for educational goals and needed resources. The first chapter explores developmental, psychological, and sociological theories that deal with human potential and how this is related to participation,…

This paper discusses the outcomes of a study on indirect bullying behaviors in girls and the link between girls' peer relationships and bullying behaviors. The study used self-report and peer nomination instruments to survey 987 Australian girls in individual classes from Year 6 to Year 10 in 7 South Australian Catholic and independent schools, 5…

Oppression in the United States can be described as a mental/spiritual and social/material domination that is fueled by manipulation and alienation. Manipulation and alienation play a prominent role in the lives of Xicanas/os (a broadening of the term "Chicana/o" to include all indigenous peoples in the United States and Latin America)…

A questionnaire survey of 417 teachers in 15 New Jersey elementary schools examined the relationships among four types of objective isolation and three types of alienation, including feelings of self-estrangement and powerlessness. Results indicated limited school interaction, few informal influence structures, and high degrees of isolation and…

Reports the results of a questionnaire on student attitudes toward being referred to a writing lab and recommends that writing instructors be more sensitive to concerns of those students. (AEA)

Increasing social fragmentation has resulted in human alienation and a subsequent lack of power to achieve. Education must initiate a renewal process by providing a "public space" or a common world in which human beings with diverse backgrounds can integrate individual perspectives toward common action to improve schools and society. (Author/MJL)