Investigated the in-group and out-group images of Israeli Jewish children (the majority group) and Arab children (the minority group). Data from students' human figure drawings and questionnaires indicated that younger Jewish children favored the majority group, while adolescents favored their in-group and rejected the out-group. Arab children…

The cultural values of multilingual students are sometimes at variance with Western academic practice, in matters such as plagiarism. In accepting this, however, it is important to avoid stereotyping. Instead we should respect and make use of the students' own traditions of study. It is also time to acknowledge that ideas and language are…

Quilts, with their bright colors, puzzle-like patterns and comforting touch, naturally appeal to children. Quilts may cover beds, blanket naps, or serve some other function in children's homes, and the family context of quilts makes them appropriate for exploring diversity with young children in the classroom. A rich and extensive collection of…

The paper explores international comparisons of the extent of commonality or diversity in the main national external quality assurance frameworks for higher education. It has been suggested, from an European survey, that there are common features in national quality assurance frameworks (van Vught and Westerheijden (Quality Management and Quality…

There has been an increased interest and debate regarding the adaptiveness of continuing bonds with the deceased. The authors used data from a cross-cultural study of 61 participants from the United States (US) and 58 participants from the People's Republic of China (PRC) who completed measures of continuing bonds and adjustment at 4 and 18 months…

The metric equivalence of translated scales is often in question but seldom examined. This study presents test-retest data that support the metric equivalence of the Spanish and English language versions of three measures: the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Self-Construal Scale. Participants were…

Education, at all levels, opens routes to achieve higher incomes, status advancement, and upward social mobility. The goal for most families is to present an opportunity for their children to receive a jump on acquiring knowledge to afford this achievement. Schools within our education system declare they offer a quality education for African…

This article considers the issue of school culture within the context of international schools worldwide. Focusing on three main points--cultural differences, educating the human spirit, and the importance of relationships--a number of challenges are raised for the international educator and, especially, for the leaders of such schools.

Developing visuals for a low-literate population is a complex process which must take education, visual literacy, culture, and way of life into account. This article describes cultural barriers to some South Africans' understanding of common pictures used to relate instructions for taking medication, and discusses tactics for modifying and…

As residential institutions summon greater resources and seek new strategies to encourage civic engagement, character building, and citizenship development among students, they too often overlook a potentially powerful asset. Residence halls, physically designed to provide students with direct access to personal differences and multiple occasions…

This study tested the validity of scores on the Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS; C. Robitschek, 1998, 1999) with a Mexican American college student sample. Results indicated that the PGIS scores appear to be culturally relevant for this population, with scores on the PGIS having many similar relations with other variables that have been…

Although economically disadvantaged and minority students made some gains in their academic achievement performance, education reforms still fail to close the academic achievement gap between them. A discussion of the factors that influence the achievement gap is presented and provides some professional development implications. According to the…

While the Old Order Amish are often thought of as the plain dressing religious sect that attracts millions of tourists annually to Pennsylvania Dutch country, this Anabaptist group also has a significant history in the Great Plains. The Amish who settled in the Great Plains share commonalities with the Old Order Amish who remained in more…

Starting from the premise that the health status, vulnerability to accidents and disease, and life spans are determined by the organization, delivery, and financing (or lack thereof) of health care, this book explores how educators and community caretakers teach the complex web of inter-connection between the micro level of individual health and…

Each edition of the IDRA Newsletter strives to provide many different perspectives on the issues in education topics discussed and to define its significance in the state and national dialogue. This issue focuses on Teaching Quality and includes: (1) Ensuring Teaching Quality in a Civil Rights Context (Bradley Scott); (2) An Unspoken Culture…