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Author: Joseph, Alfred Louis
Resulting in 3 citations.
1. Broussard, C. Anne
Joseph, Alfred Louis
Tracking: A Form of Educational Neglect?
Social Work in Education 20,2 (April 1998): 110-120
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Keyword(s): Education Indicators; Education, Secondary; Gender Differences; High School Completion/Graduates; Racial Differences; Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (N = 1,922 high school graduates) examine the impact that academic tracking (ability grouping) has on the lives of school children. Results show that tracking interacts with the powerful social forces of race, gender, & socioeconomic status to limit the life chances of some children, especially those from racial minority groups. It is argued that tracking is a form of educational neglect that needs to come to the attention of school social workers, who need to be aware of any school practice that might restrict the potential for already at-risk children. Adapted from the source document. Copyright: Sociological Abstracts.
Bibliography Citation
Broussard, C. Anne and Alfred Louis Joseph. "Tracking: A Form of Educational Neglect?" Social Work in Education 20,2 (April 1998): 110-120.
2. Joseph, Alfred Louis
The Impact of Tracking: An Examination of Outcomes
Journal of Poverty 2,1 (1997): 1-21.
Also: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/wpov20/2/1
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Haworth Press, Inc.
Keyword(s): Education; Mobility, Social; Racial Differences; Socioeconomic Status (SES)

The educational practice of tracking (ability grouping) is a widespread and controversial practice in the nation's schools. The charge has been made that poor, working-class and especially African-American schoolchildren are adversely impacted by this school policy. Critics believe that lower track children are not given the type of knowledge and instruction that allows for social mobility. Using a sample from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the author compares outcomes of 1900 tracked students. Results show that more than just the placement in academic tracks impacts outcomes for these young people. Race and class of origin are critical factors for life outcomes and also impact on who gets placed in which academic tracks. [Copyright 1998 by The Haworth Press. Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@, haworth.com]
Bibliography Citation
Joseph, Alfred Louis. "The Impact of Tracking: An Examination of Outcomes." Journal of Poverty 2,1 (1997): 1-21.
3. Joseph, Alfred Louis
Tracking of School Children: a Comparison of Life Outcomes
Ph.D. Dissertation, The Ohio State University, 1995
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: UMI - University Microfilms, Bell and Howell Information and Learning
Keyword(s): Children, Academic Development; Demography; Education; Employment; Family Income; Gender Differences; High School Completion/Graduates; Poverty; Social Work; Vocational Education

The practice of ability grouping (tracking) in the schools is thought by many to have adverse effects on children placed in the non-academic or lower tracks. The curriculum and instruction they receive is inferior to that received by students in the academic or higher tracks. This study will look at how the practice of tracking has impacted the lives of school children according to how they were tracked in school. This investigation uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Out of the 12,686 possible cases, random selection was used to create four roughly equal groups of white male, white female, black male and black female respondents. The total number equaled 1,922; all high-school graduates. The data used came from survey year 1991. The variables of interest were grouped into four distinct categories. They were employment, educational, family financial and demographic. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, chi square, Anova and Ancova were used. For most of the analytic procedures, tracking (academic, general of vocational/commercial) was the predictor variable, the other variables were either categorized as confounding or criterion. Being placed in the academic track seemed to benefit the respondents when it came to employment and educational opportunities. It was also discovered that having a parent, especially a male parent, in certain job categories increased ones chances of being placed in the academic track. Academic track respondents also had better educated parents. In the financial arena, there were no significant differences, at the 0.05 level, due to track placement when hourly rate-of-pay was considered. Significant differences were found among the respondents when annual family income was used as the variable. Respondents in the academic track had much lower poverty rates than those respondents in the general or vocational/commercial. The distribution pattern of black and white respondents over the three tracks differed significantly. Blacks and whites also differed on outcomes within a particular track. For instance, in the academic track, the black female hourly rate-of-pay was 62% of the white female rate. It was slightly better for black males. Their rate was 78% of the white male rate. Similar discrepancies were also found in other tracks over many variables. Academic track placement was a definite advantage. However, same track placement did not guarantee equal outcomes. Race and sex seemed to be powerful influences. Given some of the results, one could conclude that tracking helps to maintain the status quo. This is done by grouping people with similar grounds and ensuring that they are exposed to similar types of educational experiences. This, in turn, greatly influences the types of occupational opportunities they will have. Having their offspring placed in academic tracks would complete the circle. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Bibliography Citation
Joseph, Alfred Louis. Tracking of School Children: a Comparison of Life Outcomes. Ph.D. Dissertation, The Ohio State University, 1995.