Profiles a series of video conferences that examined the effects of European settlement on the art of Aboriginal peoples in Australia and the cultural conflicts facing contemporary Aboriginal artists. The video conferences brought together Aboriginal artists and Canadian educators. Considers the role of video-conferencing in educational research…

Explores the new mission outlined by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and the efforts of the federal government to help the working poor. The review of welfare reform proposals suggests that real solutions will depend on comprehensive plans for a broader sense of well-being for all citizens. (SLD)

Ten myths and countermyths about intelligence are explored. It is argued that the desire for simplicity and publicity has led psychologists and others writing about intelligence to take positions that cannot be justified by current theory or recent data. However defined, intelligence is but one aspect of being human. (SLD)

This paper explores social and psychological issues facing those with acquired hearing loss, including self-identity, dealing with the loss, communication issues, and the impact of hearing impairment on significant others. Strategies and innovative approaches to promoting the well-being of deafened and hard-of-hearing individuals and their…

Discusses the effects of the recent proliferation of casinos on Native American reservations. Suggests that supporters feel that the economic prosperity and availability of jobs associated with the casinos are crucial for providing for the needs of the reservation's residents, whereas opponents fear an increase in serious gambling addictions. (MAB)

Argues that universities are as well equipped as and more obligated than most other social institutions to listen to, understand, and respond to problems in American society. Suggests that the great universities of the 21st century will be judged by their ability to help solve the most urgent social problems. (SM)

Universities must become more involved in helping society address vital urban issues, and the faculty reward system should be restructured to encourage faculty involvement in urban service. The University of Alabama at Birmingham has made such a commitment, involving faculty in urban outreach, and university officers in clarifying institutional…

The negative impacts of immigration are felt most strongly by nonwhite Americans. The significant problems with today's immigration policies can only be solved by reducing immigration levels, something many minority groups support. Immigration is not the root of social problems, but in its present form, it exacerbates them. (SLD)

Selfishness has spawned a new breed of racism, driven by fear, fed by scarcity, and manifested through economic imperatives. California's Proposition 187 and Herrnstein and Murray's book "The Bell Curve" are built on racist foundations. Our current obsession with race is driven by an economy and an elitist social system that is…

Discusses the view of education in Russia and college students' attitudes about their futures. Addresses how well prepared high school graduates are to enroll in a higher education institution, the social composition of college students, and the practice of bribes in relation to assessing student preparedness for college. Explores nonstate…

Presents a strategy for a study of social problems that involves selecting brief excerpts from various literary genres that focus on a key social issue or problem. Explains that middle-level students are presented with a problem to identify, explore, and attempt to solve. Presents an appendix using this excerpt format. (CMK)

Presents an activity where students examine the perspectives of the indigenous poor of Mexico as well as of the Mexican government in a time of political change. Explains that the students read the background information in the accompanying handouts in order to simulate the negotiations between the government and Zapatista National Liberation…

Maintains that when students learn about social problems they often feel depressed and apathetic about their ability to change these problems in society. Describes the Community Exploration Project that addresses the despair expressed by students and utilizes a student-centered approach where students discover and understand community efforts to…

Offers an interview with Ivan Ivanovich Mel'nikov, who is the chair of the newly created Russian legal base called the State Duma's Committee for Science and Education. Explains that this legal base will assist in the further development of general and higher education institutions and will help improve the teaching conditions in Russia. (CMK)

Proposes rethinking citizenship so as to include children, maintaining that such thinking can prompt consideration of the similarity of concerns confronting children and adults. Argues that we need to rethink the value of the language of rights and its social significance. Concludes with examination of the requirements of such a vision of…