Current legal notions of insanity and moves to change them show the haziness surrounding the concepts of "mental illness" and "insanity." The American Psychiatric Association's "Statement of the Insanity Defense" and the legislating of mental illness defenses at the state level are analyzed. (SR)

Some identification and programing approaches for gifted students are said to shortchange all students and perpetuate a myth of exclusivity. The real issue, the author contends, is not whether the label "gifted" is affixed, but whether all children's needs are met through the regular curriculum or through adaptations. (CL)

Presents a glossary of career guidance terms prepared by a National Vocational Guidance Association panel of career guidance experts. This glossary is a beginning effort to clarify and standardize important career guidance terms. (RC)

A critical look at the "self-education" movement reveals that many of the underlying ideas are reemerging notions from so-called "progressive" and "radical" education. Some new practices and techniques, however, are advocated. The movement's scope allows for discussion under three broad interpretations of…

Examines sources available for developing a theory of visual literacy and attempts to clarify the meaning of the term. Suggests that visual thinking, a concept supported by recent research on mental imagery, visualization, and dual coding, ought to be the emphasis for future theory development. (FL)

This article contains a poem which defines social studies. (RM)

The centrality of the definition of need as the major determinant of both substance and strategy in the conduct of needs assessment in a community is highlighted. A definition of need is proposed as a working definition for needs assessment undertakings, and consequently as a foundation for social practice. (Author)

A standard approach to the selection of children with specific language deficits was devised, based on a current definition of specific language deficit that depends heavily on exclusion criteria. A total of 132 language impaired children aged four to eight and one-half years were assessed. (Author)

Reports analysis of five journals: "Commentary," the "Nation," the "New Republic,""Saturday Review," and the "Atlantic Monthly." Commonalities include exaggeration, moral indignation, and complex analysis with simple solutions. Concludes that these journals exist to persuade an educated, affluent, and influential readership that a certain kind of…

The author addressed the definitional aspect of including autism in the Developmental Disabilities Act (P.L. 94-103). The developments that led up to the law are reviewed, and the role of the National Society for Autistic Children regarding the law is considered. (SBH)

Discusses the semantic differences between the near-synonyms "detenteur" and "titulaire" in French, and provides a list of terms correctly used with the two words and the additional near-synonym "porteur." (AM)

The author suggests that P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, is likely to result in suppression rather than expansion of services to mildly disturbed students because of problems in the definition of emotional disturbance and the requirement of service for all children identified. (Author/CL)

The article identifies and discusses the inherent differences that exist between vocational rehabilitation practice and client advocacy for the handicapped, and provides some recommendations as to how rehabilitation professionals may legitimately serve as advocates for handicapped persons. (DLS)

Each of the major music cultures in West Asia--Turkey, Persia, and the Arab countries--has distinct rules of improvisation. Improvisation in each of these countries is described; a glossary is included; selected readings and recordings conclude the article. (KC)

A professor of English recalls vocabulary and spelling errors in freshman compositions. (CJ)