Discusses and contrasts varying definitions of empowerment from social work and feminist literature. Describes what is problematic in the definitions of empowerment practice with older women and suggests reasons for broadening the definition and concept of empowerment so that social welfare professionals can meet the needs of this growing…

This introduction to a special section provides the basic definitions and presents the measurement approaches and data analytic techniques that are collectively referred to as chaos theory. The conceptualization and assessment of unstable behavioral disorders can be strengthened by incorporating elements of chaos theory. (SLD)

This paper proposes a definition of clinically significant change in communication ability and suggests three evaluation criteria, including determining whether the change resulted from treatment rather than uncontrolled factors, whether the change was real rather than random, and whether the change was important rather than trivial. (Author/JDD)

This commentary points out the need for a working definition of "appropriate education" so that parents of children with disabilities have realistic expectations and educators know what is expected of them in providing services. Educators must ensure that court actions do not make "regular education" children second-rate citizens. (JDD)

Discusses the advances made in understanding the brain structures responsible for language. Presents findings made using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomographic (PET) scans to study brain activity. These findings map the structures in the brain that manipulate concepts and those that turn concepts into words. (MCO)

Presents research findings relating to the major disorders of the mind and brain. Discusses the anatomic, biochemical and hereditary bases of schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness. Vignettes provide additional information and diagrams of the brain stress system, medicines for mental disorders, and a graph of generational trends. (MCO)

Ecological economics addresses the dangers of excluding nature from economic decisions. Discusses how traditional economic frameworks separate economic interests from environmental interests. Introduces some alternative ideas wherein environmental interests are incorporated into economic planning. (MCO)

This article reviews use of the term "best practice" in special education and suggests that the term is misleading unless measurable criteria have been systematically applied. A proposed definition focuses on the theoretical basis for a procedure, integrity of the research design and extent of replication, consensus with literature, process and…

This study surveyed 50 full-time faculty from a doctoral-granting institution regarding their definition of faculty scholarship, through naming and describing scholars. An inventory of 249 attributes of faculty scholarship resulted, confirming the complexity of the faculty scholarship construct. (The inventory is appended.) (Author/DB)

Analyzes definitions of information literacy by reviewing library and information science literature of the 1970s and 1980s. The response of the information profession to the expanding range of skills and knowledge required for information literacy is noted. Three main trends in information literacy from the literature of the early 1990s are…

The central aim of professional accreditation is defining and maintaining standards. An essential first step is establishing the profession's boundaries and membership. Teacher educators cannot agree on a definition of the teaching profession and have little control over accrediting agencies' governance. NCATE is an association permitting teacher…

This article briefly explains the position of the Council for Exceptional Children in opposing the addition of attention deficit disorder under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A clarifying joint memorandum issued by three Department of Education agencies is summarized. (DB)

Argues that the management of organizational culture is the key to successful innovation, drawing on empirical studies of Britain's Technical and Vocational Educational Initiative (TVEI). Embedding an innovation such as TVEI across a curriculum requires a new management style that transforms an academic-driven curriculum to one supporting and…

Attempts to identify the roles of two British laws, the Race Relations Act of 1976 and the Children Act of 1989, in getting rid of racism in children's lives. Britain is the only European country to have comprehensive legislation about racial discrimination, but mere passive acknowledgment has little effect. (SLD)

The Pyramid, Railroad, and High Performance theories of leadership are inappropriate for school settings. At root, school leadership is about connecting people morally to each other and to their work. The work of leadership involves developing shared purposes, beliefs, values, and conceptions associated with teaching and learning,…