Educators are reluctant to report child abuse and neglect because they are not sure how abuse and neglect are defined, they are inadequately informed about the reporting process, and they fear prosecution. Most states make failure to report illegal, and courts tend to support educators making reports in good faith. (PGD)

Although Virginia's Governor Lowell Weicker comes from a privileged background, he has drawn himself close to the people. A liberal Republican with some strong conservative values, Weicker believes privilege means sacrifice in terms of time commitment and tax effort. Weicker has spearheaded legislation to benefit learning-disabled and economically…

In 1999, a coalition of child advocacy groups, the Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth, and the Law, challenged Section 43 of Canada's criminal code, which permits "reasonable force" in disciplining children. The heavily debated issue turns on judges' varied interpretations. A court decision is expected by year's end. (MLH)

Almost half of the 13 million children aged 13 and under are estimated to have no supervision after school hours. Communities and schools must develop responses to the problem tailored to local needs. (MD)

The common law and statutory structures that affect childhood come in three styles: rules, minimums, and sovereignties. The most significant is sovereignties, which recognize in someone or some institution a residual authority and discretion to protect, control, and prepare the child. (Author/IRT)

School boards epitomize the U.S. tradition of representative local government. A 1992 National School Boards Association statement recognizes four major school board functions: envisioning a community's future educational program, establishing facilitative organizational structures and community environments, ensuring performance assessment…

According to superintendent of San Diego (California) City Schools, days are past when schools could concentrate simply on basic education and leave child's social, physical, psychological, and economic needs to others. New Beginnings, a collaborative effort to meet student and family needs, succeeds because participants developed shared…

Some advocates of "all children can learn" downplay the need for adequate resources and child-friendly public policy. Educators' heroic efforts alone are insufficient. Other destructive fallacies include the principal as sole instructional leader and exception-based, uniform standards. The effective-schools movement has become too…

When Canada signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, all government levels became responsible for adopting and implementing a set of entitlements considered too radical for Americans. Critics claim the Convention subverts absolute parental and institutional authority over children. Implementation problems and progress are…