Provides a series of guiding principles for schools and other groups for evaluating and designing character education curricula. These include a meaningful and challenging academic curriculum that respects all learners and helps them to succeed, moral leadership from both staff and students, and development of a caring community. (MJP)

Addresses some of the concerns surrounding the controversy of religion and public education. Finds some common ground in the ethical issues shared by character education and citizenship education and the nondenominational moral teachings in religious education. Outlines four broad strategies for maintaining productive community discussions. (MJP)

John Lee's little-known 1984 study "Tomorrow's Teachers" shows that potential teachers' grade-point averages during 1974-83 did not decline or differ from other majors' GPAs. A 1996 UCLA study documents resistance to outcomes-based education at 10 schools. Well-educated parents of former high-track students pressured administrators to resegregate…

Expands the parameters of "parental involvement" in educational research regarding its effect on academic achievement. Includes talking with children about school-related activities and helping with homework in the new definition. Integrating these findings challenges the belief that lower-income parents are less involved with their…

Presents a free-wheeling and insightful interview with Nobel Prize winning author, Toni Morrison. Morrison talks about the nature, benefits, and characteristics of community, drawing examples from her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, and New York City. She also discusses prevalent themes and ideas in her books. (MJP)

Considers the problems inherent in researching changes in social values and individual perspectives among selected age groups. Asserts that studies aimed at researching both aspects need to be organized as longitudinal studies. Utilizes data taken from a study of East and West Berlin adolescents to reveal specific research problems. (MJP)

Over 100,000 teachers and 200,000 students are physically assaulted each year. Teachers must be prepared to deal with school violence. Suggestions for defusing potentially violent situations include appear calm, observe closely, speak carefully, don't lie, ask appropriate questions, avoid confrontational language and actions, and separate the…

Evaluates three participatory civic education learning programs developed by the Citizenship Education Clearing House: the Election Program, Missouri State Government Program, and the Metropolitan Issues Program. Evaluation consisted of questionnaires, observation, and interviews. Discovers that the programs are both popular and effective. (MJP)

Studies of the degree of involvement (DOI) and its relationship to therapeutic intervention effectiveness and related services for young children with cerebral palsy were reviewed. Three dimensions of DOI: (1) brain damage and mental retardation, (2) functional motor ability, and (3) emotional disturbance and behavior problems were reviewed. The…

This study examined the cross-ethnic equivalence of several measures commonly used to tap contextual correlates (i.e., parental symptomatology, family relations, peer relations) of serious emotional disturbance in children. Subjects were 117 juvenile offenders with diagnosed substance abuse or dependence disorders and considerable psychiatric…

A spring 1995 national survey of deans and directors on liability issues in social work education is reported. Areas explored include use of field training agreements, legal action involving students in field placements, and formal procedures for and litigation resulting from termination of students and faculty. Court decisions and accreditation…

A study investigated advocacy factors that were influential in enabling a rural school district to expand its gifted program despite greatly diminished state support and a local budget crisis. Parents played a vital role, and relationships between a parent support group, the program coordinator, and the superintendent were also important.…

Describes an experimental undergraduate seminar on the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge. The course takes a multidisciplinary approach, using case studies to draw together theoretical principles from library and information science, the philosophy and sociology of science, critical thinking and problem solving, and the…

Describes the One-Third Report method for motivating reluctant students to read and write: the teacher reads aloud a portion of a story; the class brainstorms endings; students read one-third of assignments, then write about what they need to know or hypothesize endings, which motivates them to finish the story. Includes sample One-Third Report.…

Employed a method for assessing material well-being and social resources using a set of observable indicators such as adequacy of food, quality of housing, financial assets, consumer goods, and social resources. Identified two dimensions, consumption and social/financial capital, which when used to assign SES were predictive of a family's ability…