The villain that prevents people from building a sense of community is themselves; their ambivalence about the community and their wish not to get too close to each other. (Author/EA)

A national study of social conditions on college campuses found that college officials were concerned about alcohol and drug abuse, crime, breakdown of civility, racial tensions, sex discrimination, and a diminishing commitment to teaching and learning. In response to those findings, this book proposes that both academic and civic standards be…

The purpose of this six-part booklet is to review the current status of genetically-based biologic technologies and to suggest how information about these technologies can be inserted into existing educational programs. Topic areas included in the six parts are: (1) genetically-based technologies in the curriculum; (2) genetic technologies…

Relying on the social constructionist approach as advanced by Armand L. Mauss (1975), this paper analyzes the construction of a recent U.S. social problem, drug abuse. It is argued that the objective conditions of drug use alone cannot explain why drugs became an issue immediately prior to the 1986 Congressional elections. Explanations for the…

With the release of "Healthy People: The Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention" in 1979, the Public Health Service launched a decade-long initiative to reduce preventable death and disease in all age groups in the population by 1990. The 226 health objectives, issued in 1980, addressed measures to improve…

In response to the Holmes and Carnegie reports that call for educational reforms in the teaching profession, this paper argues that the financial support for these future reforms will be diverted to fund the research to combat the emerging national crises that ultimately will threaten national security. Describing the emerging crises in this paper…

The first section of this conference report on a drug-free America presents an overview addressing three areas: the scope of the drug problem in the United States; its evolution; and some proposed solutions. In the second section, recommendations for action are made for prevention of drug abuse that may be achieved through multiple strategies that…

The social responsibility theory of the press is usually considered to be a twentieth century development. According to this theory, one of the five major missions of mass communications is to raise social conflict from the plane of violence to the place of discussion. To achieve this, the media should serve as a forum for the exchange of comment…

Non-formal adult educational programs in Scandinavian and North American popular movements have often been used to advance popular, democractic movements in both areas. Folk schools are often viewed as a panacea for social and educational problems, but as the findings here demonstrate, it is not just education but the mobilization of people around…

Asserting that developmental growth is easier to attain in developing countries than social change, this paper assesses the prospective impact of biotechnology on the developing nations. Biotechnology is defined as the integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology, and chemical engineering to achieve the industrial processes of fermentation, enzyme…

Using the schools to achieve racial balance, eliminate poverty, fight drug abuse, prevent pregnancy, and reduce youth suicide is simply too much to ask. Teachers and principals should be required to address educational issues, not unmet social needs. Moreover, those who demand the schools' improvement would be well-advised to pay significant…

Contrasting a party identification model with a rational decision making model, a cognitive model predicts voter intent on two referenda: (1) an amendment to permit a state lottery; and (2) an amendment to permit residents of each county to vote on whether to permit casino gambling. Supporters of the lottery amendment attempt to strongly link it…

The University Studies program at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, is described with regard to program objectives, staffing, admissions, advisement, requirements, and enrollment. The program offers an alternative to meeting general education requirements. While it focuses on contemporary issues of value and choice, it is suitable for all…

The nature of controversial programs is discussed, including problems that such programs pose for evaluators and suggested solutions for the problems. Controversial programs are likely to generate news-media attention, internal conflicts (i.e., involving the program and evaluation staffs) and external conflicts (i.e., involving various advocacy…

The goals of this study of the relationship between judges and elderly offenders were: (1) to describe beliefs and attitudes held by judges about the elderly and elderly delinquents, (2) to catalogue sanctions judges use and recommend as ideal for elderly shoplifters and other elderly misdemeanants, and (3) to poll judges about their willingness…