Dialogue, listening, and compromise are essential elements of living in a democracy. In a highly partisan time, is it possible to reestablish common ground when it comes to how best to educate our children in and for democracy? Authors Brendan Sheran, Ashley Carey, Jack Schneider, Rebecca Woodland, and Kathryn McDermott, who are affiliated with…

This study examines teacher perceptions of the media and public's portrayal of teachers and teaching during COVID-19 from the initial school closures in March 2020 through the reopening process of the 2020-2021 school year. Drawing upon data from 122 full-time, public-school teachers in Massachusetts, findings include teacher perceptions of such…

Marijuana was widely sold and used in the U.S. as a patent medicine until the early 1930s, when states began enacting marijuana laws instigated by racist anti-marijuana propaganda. The social construction of marijuana as one of the most dangerous drugs was completed in 1970 when marijuana was classified as a Schedule 1 drug. In recent years,…

At state and institutional levels, leaders are discussing and enacting policy changes that could shape the future of higher education for decades-especially public higher education. But when citizens talk about the mission of higher education today, their conversations are different from those of policymakers. How do their values and concerns…

Alienation between the U.S. military and society has grown in recent decades. Such alienation is unhealthy, as it threatens both sufficient civilian control of the military and the long-standing ideal of the "citizen soldier." Nowhere is this issue more predominant than at many major universities, which began turning their backs on the…

Arguably, the ultimate application of evidenced-based communications is translating the research recommendations into a full-fledged media campaign. This article explains the development and implementation of Watch Your Mouth, a campaign based on FrameWorks Institute's research on children's oral health. To date, this innovative campaign has been…

This study analyzes public perceptions of Boston's magnet school program. Typically evaluated in terms of their impact on racial integration, magnet schools also were designed to improve the tarnished image of the Boston school system. While promoting voluntary integration at a handful of schools, the magnet program struggled to change the…

The way that immigration is talked about in the public sphere has direct bearing on the ways that health, education, legal, and political institutions enact policies to deal with this phenomenon. Looking at the major media output on questions of access to higher education for undocumented immigrant youth in Massachusetts, this study shows the…

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO LIBERAL JOURNALS AND THE INSTITUTIONS AND PERSONNEL OF FORMAL EDUCATION WAS STUDIED. "THE NATION" AND "NEW REPUBLIC" WERE SELECTED AS BEING INFLUENTIALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF INTELLECTUAL AMERICAN LIBERALISM DURING THE 20TH CENTURY. STANDARD TECHNIQUES OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH WERE EMPLOYED. RELEVANT…

Although attitudes towards poverty and public dependency have become more liberal over the past 100 years, most in the general public would argue that stigma serves the important function of discouraging voluntary dependency; beliefs about 13 different programs and proposals to aid the poor are assessed for sample of respondents in the Boston…

The American people do not favor tax support for private or parochial schools. The issue of vouchers has been placed before the electorate 22 times since 1966, and the voters have rejected it 21 times. It makes little sense for state and national legislators to continue to press for unwanted programs. (MLH)

This paper addresses the role of serving the public interest and how that relates to education. The document provides specific examples of how education reform efforts in Massachusetts often were couched in such vague terms as to be ineffective in establishing educational standards. The paper discusses how politics influences educational policy…

Despite favorable outcomes resulting from a progressive 1972 special education law, many Massachusetts residents are concerned about Chapter 766 outcomes, costs, and the rising proportion of eligible students. Recently, the Massachusetts Legislature redefined the concept of a "special-needs child" and crafted a comprehensive Educational…

Despite strong research evidence on the importance of early learning for later school success, thousands of Massachusetts children enter school without the benefit of quality preschool experiences. This statewide study examined the opinions of voters, child care experts, and opinion leaders regarding early care and education in order to inform a…

Provides historical information on the factors that contributed to the views of women and their roles in the post World War II era. Focuses on the four techniques for using promotional literature to refashion the images of three Massachusetts colleges: Mount Holyoke, Smith, and Wellesley. (CMK)