Argues that citizenship education must include an examination of the great issues of the times using active, critical teaching methods and reflective inquiry. Maintains that this is necessary to prevent political apathy in young people. Briefly discusses the history of social studies educational reform and the creation of national standards. (MJP)

A review of 36 social interaction measures found that there are no measures available to evaluate infants and preschool children's basic capacity for social interaction. The available measures are described and grouped into parent-child interaction, social skills, social competence, play, adaptive behavior, communication, general development, and…

A study investigated the concerns of 24 South African nursing students enrolled in a problem-centered, community-based training program. Results indicated most were not troubled by the problem-centered approach but were less positive about the community-based nature of the course. Most negative perceptions decreased over the three-month period of…

Describes the transformation of the philosophy of the teacher education program at the University of South Africa from a traditional, fundamental pedagogical approach to a pluralistic problem-centered approach that encourages trainees to develop their own creative potential. Course outlines and anticipated outcomes are included. (Author/MSE)

Describes an approach to facilitating middle school reform that includes teachers in a constructivist learning environment where they function as active learners who explore contradictions and create their own solutions to real problems. Considers implications for teacher inservice education, and describes the case of one middle school teacher.…

Understanding prospective employees' rights (under the 1964 Civil Rights Act and other federal legislation prohibiting discriminatory practices) can help principals protect themselves, their schools, and their districts from litigation. Scenarios are described, along with permissible staff-selection steps: position analysis, recruitment,…

This article discusses the challenges faced by a first-year special education teacher at a public high school. Challenges included issues such as behavior management, deciding what to teach, scheduling and time, working with a paraprofessional, collaboration and mainstreaming versus inclusion, paperwork and meetings, and training and support.…

Alternative high schools whose power emanates from variety, choice, and personal relationships are hindered from succeeding by sending schools' practices. Alternatives lack control over who attends, student diversity, time of entry, who teaches, program definition, and graduation policies. They often have inferior facilities and insufficient…

Compared to students from affluent public and prep schools, few inner-city students receive extra time or other accommodations when taking high-stakes tests. The growth in "false positives" among affluent youth may partly stem from nonspecific definitions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Fairness is being…

Examined the moderating effect of risk on the relation between autonomy processes and family and adolescent functioning. In families in low-risk contexts, behavior undermining autonomy was negatively related to relationship quality; adolescents' autonomy expressions related to positive social functioning. In high-risk-context families, undermining…

Studies adjustment and behavior changes resulting from school change in students (n=35) ages 12 to 18 who relocated to another school after theirs was destroyed. Subjects were compared to a randomly selected control group of students (n=27) from the joined school. Relocated students experienced lower grades and increased behavior problems. (SNR)

Evaluates the effects of home-based family therapy on 116 high- risk teenage mothers and their children. Subjects received case management, supportive counseling and some received family therapy. Twelve-month follow-up indicated family therapy subjects improved parenting and became less welfare dependent. No significant difference was found at 24…

Peers of a socially rejected seventh-grade girl were rewarded for publicly reporting positive aspects of the girl's behavior. Results indicated that positive peer reports reduced negative social interactions to near zero and increased positive interactions to above 70%. In addition, social acceptance ratings of the girl increased from…

Provides an overview of the rationale behind the World Bank credit line to Nigerian universities and examines the impact of the credit facility on the information demand and supply in the University of Agriculture, Makurdi Library (Nigeria). Discusses problems, such as poor quantity and quality of books and journals, lack of equipment, and lack of…

Reports on the training experiences of workers from linguistically diverse backgrounds via a focus on their learning activities in community college apprenticeship programs. A survey identified areas of linguistic difficulty that students were experiencing in their coursework and ways in which instructors could reduce these barriers to success.…