LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Social Capital: Communities
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The World Bank (1999) has ... brought together a range of statistics to make the case for the social and economic benefits of social capital. For example they argue that there is evidence that schools are more effective when parents and local citizens are actively involved. 'Teachers are more committed, students achieve higher test scores, and better use is made of school facilities in those communities where parents and citizens take an active interest in children’s educational well-being'. They also indicate some negative impacts, for example, when disgruntled local elites joined together to close health clinics in Uttar Pradesh. Child mortality rates soared as a result (The World Bank).
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Social capital in the Sierra Nevada is generally strong. The quality of education is generally high, demonstrated by high school seniors consistently outperforming the California average on the SAT, the standard college entrance exam. Residents’ commitment to community is exemplified through high voter participation and vested interest in funding for the arts and in local cultural activities.
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The teen pregnancy rate in the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion is an example of a negative indicator of social capital. Both California and Oregon rank poorly in meeting the needs of teenage girls for contraceptives and have fairly high teen pregnancy rates. Teen pregnancy is linked to limited educational attainment, limited job skills, and a high probability of living in poverty. Teen mothers may be less likely to participate in their community through civic activity and volunteerism and their children are more likely to ... become teen mothers.
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In general, there is no one model for social capital formation or the creation or strengthening of local groups. Albee & Boyd (1997) argue that there is no single answer or model to promoting participation … there are only frameworks and guiding principles. Pantoja (1999) argues that instead of one particular model of local organisation, a wide variety of community organisations should be promoted. There needs to be an individual, participatory approach to each intervention.
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At the institutional level, disciplinary climate and academic norms established by the school community and the mutual trust between home and school are major forms of social capital. These forms of social capital are found to contribute to student learning outcomes in East Asian countries such as Singapore, Korea, and Hong Kong. They have been shown to have a significant impact, not only on creating a learning and caring school climate, but ... on improving the quality of schooling and reducing inequality of learning outcomes between social-class groups.
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The mean factor score of the participation aspect of social capital. This includes all membership in organizations and associations, all participation on community projects, and all interaction with others in the neighborhood. The higher the score, the more the resident participates. Range: -1.19 – 2.65
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