Character education specialists seem to know it when they see it, but what it means to call something a character education program remains unclear. One possible source for this uncertainty is the manner in which character education has been defined. By identifying certain features as necessary, existing definitions fail to encompass the universe…

This paper provides an informed and critical understanding of the concept of self-esteem. It explores this psychological construct in relation to its use in adventure education and outdoor learning. Enhancing a participant's self-esteem is perceived to be fundamentally a good thing and is culturally linked to the Hahnian notion that implies…

Turkey's recent development plans suggest that, according to state planners, development is no longer identified with, achieved through or measured by economic growth. These documents evince that Turkey has embraced what is referred to as the capability approach. What remains unclear is whether this embrace is substantive or rhetorical. This paper…

Secondary education in Ireland includes an optional Transition Year (TY) between the junior and senior examination cycles, when students are typically about 15 years old. Transition Year is an innovative programme, unique to Irish education, which is intended as a non-academic year devoted to personal and social development in the absence of…

The global nature of social problems indicates how important it is for social workers to be involved in international issues. For example, overseas experience in social work programs is in consonance with the Council on Social Work Education's emphasis on global context of social work practice. In view of this, some schools of social work are…

The Millennium Development Goals launched in 2001 provide a worldwide agenda to reduce poverty by 2015. Though the eight goals provide synergies for the rapid reduction of poverty, the MDGs have come under criticism for being too narrow and sometimes leaving out critical aspects of human development and well-being. Although the MDGs address some…

Hall and Hord's (2005) concerns-based adoption model (CBAM) served as the framework to study a districtwide implementation of Rachel's Challenge in Rockwall, Texas. This article describes CBAM principles and strategies that were used to increase awareness of the change process during the first year of implementing the character education program.…

It was found that in Memphis there are major differences in how CETA professional staff perceive the goals of the program participants and in how these participants perceive their own goals. To get better CETA programs of any type, the authors recommend that more input be sought from the clients. (CT)

The effects of cooperation between day care personnel and parents were assessed in two stages. First, action research in three experimental day care centers and two control groups created and evaluated a cooperative program. Second, the results of the research were implemented as an intervention program supporting home education in family day care…

Discusses various elements of effectiveness in industrial training: the favorable image surrounding training, ease with which employees can enroll for courses, training as a tool of personal development, the evolution of training departments into professional staff units, and budgets. The efforts of training department management are also…

Describes analysis of quality of North American doctoral programs in developmental sciences, such as developmental psychology and human development. Found that the faculty associated with the top one-third of programs were two to three times as active as the faculty associated with the lower two-thirds of programs. This difference held true in the…

Reports the evaluation results of a leadership development program for rural citizens. Results suggest that (1) one-week training efforts are less effective than longer, more intensive training programs, and (2) more effective programs include both classroom study and on-site exposure to community development practice. (Author/CT)

In this article, the authors assessed results from a cultural awareness instrument administered to business student participants at the beginning of a summer study abroad program in London, England, and then again at the program's conclusion. The data indicated that the program enhanced cultural awareness and personal development. Moreover,…

Progress of Oregon's State Prekindergarten Program (SPP) during its first 3 months of program operation is reported. Serving mostly low-income, 3- and 4-year-old children, the SPP offers health, nutrition, education, and social services to children and their families. Parent involvement and education are important program components. This progress…

Experimental group mothers reported significantly greater self-confidence and satisfaction with mothering and more favorable perception of infant temperament than did control group mothers. Differences between children on cognitive scores became significant at 36 and 48 months of age, when the experimental group caught up with normal children. (RH)