Reviews current research on language and gender and discusses the implications of such work for gender-based research in second-language acquisition. The article notes that recent work in sociolinguistics, generally, and language and gender research, more specifically, has rejected categorical ideas of social identities in favor of more dynamic…

Reports on two studies addressing the issue of ultimate attainment of pronunciation by late second-language learners. Findings indicate that it is not impossible to achieve an authentic, nativelike pronunciation of a second language after a specified biological time. The article argues that certain learner characteristics and learning contexts may…

Compares language patterns in two moderately aphasic adults over age 60 with left hemisphere damage, using measures of lexical richness (word frequency). Argues for the usefulness of evaluating patients on conversational speech and the role of extensive linguistic analysis in prognosis and therapy. The discussion considers both qualitative and…

Maintains that education exists in a context where power is constantly being negotiated between teachers and students. Discusses ways in which this relationship can be articulated and integrated into the curriculum. Recommends adopting teaching practices for respecting the beliefs, values, and lifestyles of others. (MJP)

Surveys of and interviews with year-12 students in Northern Ireland over 10 years examined the impact of government science education policy by noting student participation in advanced science courses. Overall, the number of boys taking advanced courses decreased and the number of girls increased. Students retained certain stereotyped views of…

The adequacy of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for taking into account dissimilarities in students' family, school, and community contexts when reporting test score differences among minority population groups was studied. Analyses show that the NAEP lacks a number of important social context measures and that the quality…

Investigates geography knowledge in junior high through undergraduate college level males and females and reports males out performed females in all aspects of geography knowledge and map skills. The gap widened with increased education and was still significant after accounting for numerous personal information items. Knowledge-based and…

This commentary discusses the research article "Gender Differences in Abused Children with and without Disabilities" (Sobsey and others) that follows, which found that children with disabilities are at greater risk for being maltreated, that boys are more frequently abused, and that boys with disabilities are sexually abused more frequently than…

The case files of 1,834 abused children found more boys were physically abused and neglected, but more girls were sexually abused. Boys with disabilities were overrepresented in all abuse categories. Although 52% of abused children without disabilities were girls, 65% of abused children with disabilities were boys. (Author/CR)

Data from a 1997 national survey of 464 two- and four-year colleges and universities concerning freshman characteristics, opinions, activities, and goals are reported. Information includes age, ethnic background, religion, academic record, college distance from home, parent background, college planning and choice, educational goals, career goals,…

Considers knowledge about location and contexts of men's and women's superintendencies, along with the authors' own recent research on former women superintendents. Women are likely to occupy superintendencies in the smallest, least cosmopolitan districts with the fewest central-office administrators, declining enrollments, more reported job…

Suggests an evaluation framework for language teachers' inservice courses regarding the degree to which they offer participants the opportunity to become more open to "otherness." The article describes training courses in five European countries and examines how they typically bring participants into contact with natives of another…

A recent American Council on Education report finds a substantial difference in degree attainment at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels between African American men and women, with women earning proportionately more degrees. Some trace the situation to educational problems among black males beginning in elementary school, at about…

Two experiments examined the relationship between reasoning skills, student grade, ability, and knowledge levels. Findings were interpreted in terms of a two-component model: a knowledge-experiential component and the conventions of reasoning. Results indicated that consideration of the relation of reasoning to learning and to instruction…

Reviews research studies on gender inequity in schools, finding problems in teachers' practices, unequal access to entire curriculums as early as the preschool years, and gender inequities in participation in after-school activities. Calls for teachers, teacher educators, and administrators to make gender fairness a priority in the total education…