Describes a bush camp in British Columbia (Canada) based on the Rediscovery concept. Guided by Kaska Dena and Sekani Elders, and based on traditional teachings, the week-long camp offers Native youth the opportunity to reconnect with the land and the cultural heritage it embodies and to make powerful new connections to their Elders and peers. (TD)

Across the country, tribal people are addressing the failure of mainstream educational methods by creating independent schools run by and for American Indians. Native-American charter schools, tribally controlled reservation schools, and magnet schools serving urban Indian youth use culturally relevant materials and curriculum to engage Indian…

Discusses how managed health care is becoming the preferred way of doing the business of human services, particularly as it relates to children's services. Author argues that social workers need to prepare for this new environment by becoming proficient in outcomes measurement. Provides suggestions for learning about outcomes management. (GCP)

Two studies evaluated effects of First Step to Success, a collaborative home and school early intervention program designed for kindergartners who show signs of emerging antisocial behavior. Two sets of 5-year-old male twins were the subjects of the 4-year studies. Exposure to the First Step program produced powerful behavior changes that were…

Introduces a special theme journal issue on research and education in quality control, maintenance, reliability, risk analysis, and safety. Discusses each of these theme concepts and their applications to naval architecture, marine engineering, and industrial engineering. Considers the effects of the rapid transfer of research results through…

David Whisnant describes his contribution to Appalachian studies as a synthesis of cultural knowledge from folklorists and political economy from left-wing scholars to create the concept of cultural intervention. He discusses the formative years of Appalachian studies, its strengths, the split between organizers and academics, and progress made in…

Discusses the questionable survival of minority languages worldwide and of the Celtic languages in the United Kingdom. Examines governmental policies concerning the teaching and school use of Welsh, Scots Gaelic, and Irish Gaelic in their respective regions. Outlines some general principles to guide policies related to minority language…

Gives an overview of the history of the Hawaiian language and the decline in number of speakers, chronicles efforts to revitalize it, and discusses the role of computing and online communications in this process, focusing on the Leoki bulletin board system, the first fully based on an indigenous language. Activities in an elementary school…

An African American teacher of English discusses her own experience with black English as a barrier to academic success, her efforts to assure that her own students speak standard English and to understand why many teachers do not stress this and the need to understand why many African American students do not use standard English despite its…

John Trudell, Indian activist orator and poet, discusses the "Spirit Eater," authoritarian systems that siphon off human energy to fuel a materialistic, technological reality. This illusion has dominated European cultures for thousands of years but contrasts sharply with indigenous knowledge and spirituality. He also discusses protecting…

Discusses the top challenges commonly confronted nationwide by school districts districts, facilities, and business. Challenges include construction and repair, enrollment, funding, security and safety, technology, maintenance, staff training and retention, and unfunded mandates. (GR)

North Chicago, Illinois, District 187, received a districtwide overhaul of lighting, heating, ventilation, and security systems through a 10-year performance contract with the Honeywell Corporation. The Briarcliff Manor Union-Free School District, New York, has a contract with Johnson Controls that guarantees a portion of the energy savings…

A naturalistic assessment of self-injurious behavior in an 11-year-old boy with multiple disabilities, including severe mental retardation, found that the boy's self-injury was occasioned by low attention and low stimulation and maintained by tangible and social reinforcement. Naturalistic assessment effectively guided the selection of behavioral…

A review of the literature examines three emerging trends related to the impact of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for children with disabilities: (1) the prescription of appropriate AAC devices; (2) implementation of AAC across multiple contexts; and (3) maintenance of AAC use and anticipation of transition needs. The importance…

Parks and recreation professionals must recognize potential hazards in playground design, installation, and maintenance. Current safety risks are from older equipment that does not comply with modern standards and has not been safety inspected. The National Playground Safety Institute's certification program is an important step toward reliable…