Explores the exercise of institutional and ideological power over rap music and fans, how artists and fans respond to that context, and the complex relationships between rap's political economy and the sociologically based crime discourse that frames it. Rap's poetic voice is a political expression of the Black experience. (JB)

Argues that creativity is the essence of true learning and explores its role in art education. Studies the creative process at work in several artists. Considers David Perkins' work on the creative process, identifying characteristics of a creative environment. Concludes creativity is more akin to problem solving than to spontaneous and mysterious…

Explores the significance of listening to multiple voices in constructing the conversation that distinguishes our culture. Pluralism and multiculturalism are discussed in terms of concrete engagements with persons who have historically not been acknowledged. Learning to look through multiple perspectives helps young people build bridges to…

Recent composition and literary theory suggests that the "I" of written discourse is illusory and does not represent an autonomous self. Argues for the development of a self-conscious voice in college writers that interprets in addition to merely recording events, a voice enabling students to enter into dialogue with teachers, texts, and…

Ideas for French-language classroom activities include an exercise in understanding and expressing location; an imaginary shopping excursion; an etymological and vocabulary development exercise; and use of brief films to improve comprehension and expression of opinions. (MSE)

The power of murals as a community communication medium and as a community building process is explored from a theoretical base in the concept of "free spaces" and "community strengths" with particular reference to murals in Latino communities. Skills that may be acquired by carrying out mural projects are detailed. (EMK)

Examined social reticence and its association with the quality of parenting behaviors. Found that children's shy, socially reticent behavior was predicted by the extent to which mothers were over-solicitous during free-play. Suggested that early childhood educators offer reticent-shy children opportunities to explore their personal and social…

Three studies were carried out to investigate the writings of suicidal people on the Internet, hypothesizing consistent findings to equivalent research of offline writing. In Study 1, suicidal persons' (n = 34) attributions as the cause of their condition, as expressed in their free online writing, were compared to those of emotionally distressed,…

This report describes an art-based intervention program with at-risk youth that was inspired by the Project Self-Discovery model (Milkman, Wanberg, & Robinson, 1996). Twelve middle-school students from a small city in a mid-Atlantic state participated in the program. The program goals included making art in order to empower the participants…

This qualitative study examined the formidable and unanticipated challenges encountered by teachers at a new urban charter school during the first year. These teachers--who largely were novices to urban education--worked diligently to motivate and teach the children--many of whom resisted classroom learning because of their frustrations in schools…

This article corrects the assumption that "indigenous women and feminist issues remain undertheorized," by demonstrating that they do theorize their lives, but that they theorize differently, meaning, indigenous women do not rely solely on Western tools, worldviews, or epistemologies as methods of interpretation. One tool indigenous…

This study investigated the influences of gender, school year, and socioeconomic status on assertiveness for black students attending four predominantly white, southeastern universities. The study employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques. Quantitative data on assertiveness were collected from 560 black freshmen and juniors…

This booklet contains the writings of international students enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at Onondaga Community College (New York). The contributed writings were viewed as bridges to understanding among the world's peoples. The collection of essays, poems and short stories includes: (1) "Our Lives in the…

Wordless picture books are a gift to the student of English as a Second Language (ESL). A strong story line is delivered through illustrations which are thoughtfully prepared. These books free the ESL student to draw from personal experience and write the story at his own ability level from personal vocabulary. Self-expression and creative…

A discussion of the use of drama activities in Second Language instruction looks at the rationale for using such techniques in the language classroom, describes a progression of drama activities used for an intensive course in intermediate English as a Second Language, and examines other considerations in the use of drama in language teaching.…