Presents a rationale for practicing democracy with four and five year olds. Discusses techniques and activities that enhance children's understanding of democracy. (BB)

Reconsiders S.M. Lipset's thesis on value differences between Canadians and Americans. Uses data from national surveys to test Lipset's argument. Analyses reveal no national differences or differences that are opposite to those hypothesized by Lipset. Speculates on contemporary reasons for new findings. Discusses inherent difficulties associated…

Presents an analysis of the responses of 686 secondary school teachers in England to a questionnaire survey on the subject of their job satisfaction. Areas covered include working conditions, roles and responsibilities, and classroom practices. Implications are drawn for teacher training and school management. (IAH)

Analyzes responses of Brazilian and American students to measures of behavioral intention, perceived norms, and feelings regarding prosocial behaviors in both public and anonymous conditions. Concludes that Brazilians had internalized ingroup norms but that Americans had complied with norms because of social desirability pressures. (FMW)

Profiles Czechoslovakia's new president and his country's history. Describes Havel's role in the 50-year fight against communism and the eventual triumph of democracy. Includes a timeline and excerpts from Havel's inaugural address. Instructional materials consist of classroom discussion questions, activities, and readings for teachers. (JS)

This article provides a brief overview of the Assertive Discipline classroom management approach and raises questions about its use in schools of a democratic society. Assertive Discipline is criticized as being based primarily on teachers' needs, characterized by authoritarian values and techniques, and lacking research-based evidence for claims…

Counters Donald Barr's assertion that works such as J. D. Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" and William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" are unfit reading material for adolescents ("Should Holden Caufield Read These Books?""New York Times Book Review," May 4, 1986). Shows how these works address adolescents'…

A course at Hampshire College that examines the character and history of literary natural history and surveys many of its significant American authors and works is described. Issues of the relationship between people and nature are raised and discussed in terms of current environmental debates. (MLW)

Trinity University's philosophy laboratory provides a think tank for philosophy students, allowing them to practice such skills as logic, critical reasoning, and the application of moral responsibility in decision-making by applying their skills to real-life situations. Students, selected as fellows and paid, are divided into teams for projects.…

The University of Utah College of Law's capstone-cornerstone program seeks to provide each year of legal education with a distinctive purpose and character, a logical progression of knowledge and skills, diverse teaching and evaluation methods, and learning experiences that integrate doctrine, skills, and values. Capstone and cornerstone course…

Discusses three aspects of rural family life--i.e., socioeconomic conditions, belief in traditional values, and educational levels--that affect not only information needs, but also how information should be presented. It is argued that, in order for rural information delivery systems to be effective, the nature of the rural community and person…

Two replication studies, using a sample of 236 high school students and 144 teachers, test the assumption that females undervalue and underestimate their achievements because of the social consequences of immodesty. Finds consistent negative consequences regardless of sex. Differences are discussed in the context of "feminine immodesty." (FMW)

The University of North Carolina-Charlotte developed a team-taught course that integrates social and ethical considerations into the engineering context. Professors of engineering, humanities, and social sciences join with community-based professionals to demonstrate the "usefulness" of the humanities and social sciences for solving…

Describes a study that was conducted to examine the perceptions of the graduates of FernUniversitat about the acceptance of their distance education degrees by themselves, their employers, their colleagues, and academics at conventional universities; and to study their perceptions of the value of their degrees in the employment market. (LRW)

Acknowledges the contributions of community colleges to the expansion of access to higher education, yet concludes that two-year colleges, especially since vocational education gained curricular predominance, have accentuated existing patterns of social inequality. Advocates the revitalization of transfer programs and the fostering of public…