Discusses the history, philosophy, theory, and educational applications of conflict resolution. Provides conceptual definitions for conflict and conflict resolution. Asserts there is a need for greater clarification of conceptual and operational definitions of conflict resolution. Notes the lack of consensus on the role of conflict resolution in…

Discusses the role of the Internet in rural schools, both for use in the classroom and for developing professional relationships. Reports results of a qualitative study of seven elementary school teachers who used the Internet to offset their rural isolation, deal with social justice and equality issues, develop learner-centered instruction, and…

Focuses on Swaziland (Africa) as an example of how colonial British influence and ad hoc design affected African educational systems. Concludes present day educational systems can only be understood through complete evaluation of the complex interaction of social, political, socioeconomic, and cultural issues that shaped United Kingdom educational…

Focuses on an exercise utilized in a research methods class and based on social problems that invites student interest. Explains the exercise has students determine their blood alcohol level (BAC) by asking them to estimate the number of beers it would take to have them just reach driving under the influence (DUI) status. (CMK)

Describes the digital divide, the technology gap between the people who have technology (information haves) and those without technology (information have-nots). Discusses that the first digital divide is access to technology; and addresses the second digital divide, computer use, focusing on computers at school and at home. (CMK)

Discusses the importance of how the divide in access is approached and the problems in addressing both digital divides (access and computer use). Argues that sociologists of education have an important role to play in this issue and describes that role. Includes references. (CMK)

Presents an activity where students select a social problem or cause and then create a poster to express something about the problem. States that students first learn about the history of posters. Includes learning objectives and an additional activity. (CMK)

Identifies myths about the poor, such as attributing poverty to the breakdown of family, and responds to them with arguments from Richard Weissbourd's book "The Vulnerable Child: What Really Hurts America's Children and What We Can Do About It." Argues for using professional material like Weissbourd's book to better articulate and…

Examines the justice claims made by opponents and proponents of affirmative action and argues the need to consider the scope of justice embedded in the affirmative action debate. It describes the scope of justice, factors causing its change over time, its application to the affirmative action controversy, and presents a table clarifying the…

Discusses recent research on the attitudes of employees who are affected by affirmative action to determine whether societal-level beliefs about discrimination lead to policy endorsement among individuals whose career outcomes are at stake. Suggests there is more endorsement than "backlash" against affirmative action, and discusses the…

Explores the death penalty as imposed on young black males in the United States and examines the disparity in death penalty rates for homicides with black offenders and white victims. States continue to impose the death penalty rather than viewing youth violence as a failure of the social system. (SLD)

Describes how elementary school teachers can develop service learning projects that educate for social justice in order to promote change as opposed to charity. Provides examples of how charitable projects can be changed into social justice projects. Discusses how service learning projects can be done without leaving the school grounds. (CMK)

Explains how problems in urban schools mirror problems in U.S. society and how this affects disadvantaged and minority children, discussing one professor's experiences with racial bias in his own educational experiences. Describes the creation of the Comer School Development Program, questioning reform projects and programs that do not take child…

Analyzes unsuccessful attempts to reform the vocational education system of Greece throughout the twentieth century. Delineates the structure of the present system based on reform legislation of 1983 and 1985. States that it is still too early to assess any outcomes of the reforms. (DB)

Traces the African-American church's traditional role as a source of social support for the African-American community in general, and for men specifically. Offers suggestions on how the church can support adolescent fathers by assuming a leadership role in meeting the social needs related to teenage pregnancy. (FMW)