The concept of Big Society provides inspiration--working "bottom up" to promote "collective action, reciprocity and a new, more engaged relationship between local people and public services". With so much written about the theory of the Big Society, this seems like an ideal time to put a little more practical detail into the mix. The authors argue…

Newbrough's Third Position is discussed in terms of its utility as a framework within which to understand and resolve interpersonal differences, seemingly irresolvable diametric differences, and conflictual situations. The framework's essential elements and its application is illustrated through the presentation of a series of fictitious scenarios…

Clarifies the value-laden meanings of "community" in community work discourse. Centers on the concepts of Gemeinschaft (community), Gesellschaft (association), and Bund (league or federation). Examines the insights of community studies and the practice of community work within the Judeo-Christian value system. (SK)

The "pining" for a sense of community, for roots, for a connectedness to others is a basic need that is felt but not understood, that is desired but not practiced, in either college settings or the greater society. Thus, the prevalent rootlessness and transience that students arrive with at college (due to a highly mobile society) is never…

A network analytic approach to the community question is proposed in order to separate concepts which may or may not be closely associated. (Author/RLV)

The author discusses the concepts of community most appropriate to adult education, integrating various theoretical perspectives. He presents a conceptual typology of three dimensions of community practice: adult education for the community, adult education in the community, and adult education of the community. (Author/SK)

Records the responses of various members of the American Art Therapy Association to questions of the future direction of art therapy. The history of art as a communal experience in which all members of society participate is being lost, and the emphasis on therapy is minimizing the importance of artmaking. (JPS)

Explores the metaphor proposed by T. Sergiovanni (1992 and following) of school as community, an alternative to conceptualizing school as organization. An extended metaphor, which takes into account organizational aspects, is presented that conceptualizes schools as nested communities. This conceptualization is illustrated through the case study…

Proposes an alternative approach to addressing crises in rural communities. By viewing the community as the client, the counselor can bridge the usual gap between individual career counseling and the economic development of the community. Goal-setting, career exploration, and action-planning become the process and the outcome measures. (RJM)

Explores characteristics of community in general and how these relate to the Montessori community. Urges the Montessori community to resist complacency by employing realistic decisions, goals, and interactions with one another; utilizing contemplation as a method of increasing community awareness; and searching for wisdom through thought, study,…

Discusses the concept of community as it applies to the college campus, focusing on community as a place to be, identifying implications for space utilization; a way of being, offering suggestions for community development; and both a place to be and a way of being, examining the implications for creating community interactions through campus…

This book is a collection of 25 essays that explore what communities will look like in the future. They include: "Introduction: Civilizing the City" (Peter F. Drucker); (1) "The Paradox and Promise of Community" (Margaret J. Wheatley and Myron Kellner-Rogers); (2) "Economic Community and Social Investment" (Lester C. Thurow); (3) "The…

This lecture decries the lack of any real sense of community in the modern university. It argues that the fundamental difficulty of creating a greater sense of community in higher education institutions is a problem of values. Competitiveness and materialism are emphasized more than those values that support and nurture a sense of community. There…