Educational Investment, Family Context, and Children’s Math and Reading Growth from Kindergarten through the Third Grade

Drawing on longitudinal data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–1999, this study used IRT modeling to operationalize a measure of parental educational investments based on Lareau’s notion of concerted cultivation. It used multilevel piecewise growth models regressing children’s math and reading achievement from entry into kindergarten through the third grade on concerted cultivation and family context variables. The results indicate that educational investments are an important mediator of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities, completely explaining the black-white reading gap at kindergarten entry and consistently explaining 20 percent to 60 percent and 30 percent to 50 percent of the black-white and Hispanic-white disparities in the growth parameters, respectively, and approximately 20 percent of the socioeconomic gradients. Notably, concerted cultivation played a more significant role in explaining racial/ethnic gaps in achievement than expected from Lareau’s discussion, which suggests that after socioeconomic background is controlled, concerted cultivation should not be implicated in racial/ethnic disparities in learning.

An Artesian Well System in Beaver Crossing, Nebraska- It's Development and Demise

ABSTRACT Nebraska has a veritable wealth of groundwater. The High Plains Aquifer underlies most of the state, and within its sand and gravel deposits, many interconnected aquifers provide fresh water for a variety of uses. One of the most spectacular examples of this resource is the artesian well. Beaver Crossing, Nebraska was once home to one of the most prolific artesian systems in the state before its demise. Founded in the 1880’s, Beaver Crossing soon became known for its many artesian wells, that provided leisure activities and supported profitable business ventures such as small farming, ice production and aquiculture. Eventually these wells would dry up and the town of Beaver Crossing would never see the level of commerce and activity that it saw during its early years. I decided to research this subject because I lived in Beaver Crossing for twelve years. While I lived there I heard stories about the artesian wells, the nationally recognized lily pond, and the large public pool fed by underground water that was plentiful around town. I was interested in knowing what happened to the water, the wells, the pool and businesses. . . And, in the wake of their disappearance, what happened to the town. To research this topic I looked at accounts of the history of Seward County and Beaver Crossing. I also studied the basic geology underlying the Great Plains, as well as local geology and issues pertaining to groundwater levels, such as rainfall amounts, drought and irrigation. As irrigation became a factor in rural Nebraska and through several documented droughts, groundwater levels all over the state declined. At the same time the artesian system in Beaver Crossing all but disappeared.