Discusses the findings of the 1986 National Institute on Drug Abuse household survey. Points out the limitations of the survey and identifies trends associated with drug use. Reviews current efforts in dealing with the drug problem and recommends specific policy changes. (ML)

Gives the founder's perspective on the history of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, and an argument for its necessity, particularly in view of conflicting societal norms in certain countries and the pressure to involve religion exclusively. Emphasizes the need to resist the glorification of suicide, and to study and prevent…

According to national statistics on death rates, criminal behavior, and other indicators, the well-being of White adolescents has declined markedly between 1960 and 1980, despite certain improvements in families, schools, and youth programs. American culture seems geared to a selfish individualism inconsistent with maintaining strong families and…

The issues of greatest current interest in the field of gifted education are reviewed, including comprehensive curriculum planning, enhancing development of both academic and creative dimensions of giftedness, and use of non-school resources. Also discussed is nurturing future leaders among the gifted to address the world's social and scientific…

Analyzes the value orientations of Swedish teachers regarding basic social issues such as economic conflicts and political preferences. Concludes that Swedish teachers are dominated by value orientations distant from those of the working class and that the school provides a picture of society that is more consistent with employer's interests than…

Discuses the use of "The Island of the Skog" with an eighth-grade humanities class to deepen students' awareness of the problems leaders face and to aid students in the development of group interaction, leadership, and decision-making skills. (NH)

Reviews a classroom experience which used the computer simulation "Decisions, Decisions: Immigration" in a secondary school social studies class. Highlights include descriptions of the decision making process, rank ordering of priorities, political and social issues relating to immigration, and benefits of teaching the simulation. (LRW)

Contains suggestions for students regarding making up nicknames for animals based on their observations. Also includes information about the overpopulation of pets and urges students to write letters to their newspaper editors about this problem. A sample letter is provided. (TW)

Examines several novels, short stories, and movies in a mini-course on the image of rural America in popular culture to determine if the idyllic picture of country life sometimes favored in the media leads to a mythologizing of country life. (NKA)

Reviews conditions in the United States supporting the need for the treatment of terrorism in social studies textbooks and reports the results of a survey of 19 high school government and history textbooks. Concludes that only two books offered students any help in defining or understanding terrorism. (JDH)

Examines the statistical dilemma and the controversy over media exposure concerning the issue of missing (abducted) children. Also looks at the role of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in relation to this issue. (Author/BB)

Noting that economic crisis until recently was considered a peculiar characteristic of free-enterprise economies, this article provides factual information demonstrating the economic crisis in the planned economies of eastern Europe. It describes in detail the consequences of the crisis for education in Poland. (JDH)

Following a brief history of education over the last forty years, this article provides a discussion of the meaning, impact, and relevance of the recent educational reform movement in the United States. (JDH)

This article describes the static or declining economic conditions of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden and relates these conditions to restrictions on education, the relationship between education and employment, control of education by governing authorities, and the employment conditions of teachers. (JDH)

Offers a brief introduction and resource list on teaching about science-related social issues. Provides three complete lesson plans for elementary, middle school, and high school use. The topics covered in the lessons are energy production and consumption in the United States; nuclear power concepts, issues, and controversies; and the arms race.…