Observes that, as families have changed over recent decades, so have their needs. Argues that social studies instruction for young students must change as well. Explores professional requirements for early childhood educators and the availability of public preschool programs. Discusses possible improvements in early childhood education in social…

Describes a study of the global orientations of 187 tenth grade students. Reports that, although students often described their communities and states in positive terms, they tended to associate social problems with the national and world spheres. Suggests that a geopolitical focus could broaden the dialogue among students, teachers, and…

Mike Davis's book presents a history and current sociology of Los Angeles from a socialist perspective, arguing that inequalities in the distribution of power and wealth underlie the area's serious, growing problems: ethnic fear and discrimination, social disinvestment and withdrawal by the "haves," and an epidemic of youth violence. (SV)

These books are, in many ways, companion volumes addressed to educators working on curricular issues and educational reform. Both consider how postmodernism, feminism, and cultural studies contribute to contemporary educational theory and social criticism. The authors make a convincing case for critical "border pedagogy" that examines…

Issues in resettlement of women and children, who make up about 80 percent of refugees of concern to the United Nations, are discussed. Bias toward males in the admission of refugees for resettlement demonstrated in data for 1985-91 for the United States, Canada, and Australia may exist elsewhere. (SLD)

Discusses the nature of social studies as a discipline. Defines it as citizenship education for teaching students how to deal with change and conflict in society. Suggests that social studies teachers believe that content should be interdisciplinary, emphasize themes and concepts dealing with social and personal issues, and teach the process of…

Explores the community as an important context of both legitimate and illegitimate female behavior. Based on the principle of the centrality of the structures of gender relations for behavior of males and females, the original community model is expanded to include population characteristics relevant to that structure. (SLD)

Describes current reform efforts in Romania and identifies 11 types of secondary schools determined by vocational goals. Discusses eight objectives for innovation and research, including curriculum reform, the relationship between general and vocational education, student assessment, and decentralization of decision making. (CFR)

Illustrates aspects of a reflective mathematics education using a project for 14- and 15-year olds. Argues for organizing mathematics education to develop different types of knowing: mathematical skills and concepts; technological competence in applications and mathematical model building; and reflective evaluations of consequences. (53…

Presents the opinions of nine professionals serving the justice system on the issue of providing representation in criminal and civil cases for those unable to pay for lawyers. Includes questions about the obligations of lawyers to provide counsel and the differences between legal representation in civil and criminal cases. (CFR)

Whether the state's vast investment in criminal justice has done any good or made communities in California any safer is studied by reviewing California crime and victimization data, imprisonment rates, and criminal justice expenditures over two decades. Results suggest there has been little impact of the immense investment in crime control. (SLD)

Explores the exercise of institutional and ideological power over rap music and fans, how artists and fans respond to that context, and the complex relationships between rap's political economy and the sociologically based crime discourse that frames it. Rap's poetic voice is a political expression of the Black experience. (JB)

Urges a focus on the positive, rather than negative, aspects of African-American family patterns and emphasizes a recollection of the past positive coping strategies, such as a strong oral tradition of proverbs for passing on positive values to next or future generations. (JB)

Reviews three studies of high school and college students' reasoning about nonprototypical issues in the context of the development and differentiation of evaluative domains. Considers possible answers to questions concerning the organization and functioning of moral thought in relation to the studies' findings. Suggests future directions for…

Adverse consequences of contemporary modes of work, child rearing, and schooling for human and child development and the quality of life; the potential of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to relieve some of these consequences; and ways educators can improve child development are reviewed. (SLD)