Some history on health-care decision making is reviewed. The current "individualist" model in the United States is contrasted with "collectivist" models of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. Decision making styles are discussed in relationship to Western medicine. Six groups' cultural norms are presented. Conflicts with U.S.…

Examines whether lists of "effective school" characteristics are universally valid or internationally transferable. Demonstrates difficulties when applying Western school-improvement strategies in the context of South African schools struggling to establish some acceptable, minimal level of functional effectiveness. Describes three…

Used meta-analysis to examine premise that the early child-parent bond is reflected in interpersonal relationships across the life span. Found that overall effect size (ES) for child-mother attachment was small to moderate. ESs were similar in studies using Strange Situation and Q-sort methods. ESs were larger for middle childhood and adolescent…

A three-year summers-only master of arts degree program in speech language pathology (SLP) at New Mexico State University allows speech language pathologists working in rural schools to obtain their master's degree and fulfill state waiver requirements. Program addresses educational needs of nontraditional graduate students and improves the…

Describes the situational complexity of the "Coalition for Education That Is Multicultural," a teacher development group of continuous inquiry into practice by reflective practitioners interested in resistance and collective social action. Interviews with and observations of female members over six months provide information on vision,…

Surveyed randomly selected adults (n=319) in the Chicago metropolitan area and questioned them on whether cultural schedules exist for the timing of life transitions. Respondents perceived deadlines for most of the family transitions discussed. (SNR)

Under Nelson Mandela's leadership, post-apartheid South Africa made a successful transition to democracy. High priority was given to educational reconstruction, particularly creating a curriculum connected to practical needs for a viable economy and life in a new democracy. President Thabo Mbeki is building on Mandela's policies. (Contains 17…

Investigated the effectiveness of a program to facilitate preservice teachers' intercultural sensitivity, examining the beliefs of two teachers at the end of the program and noting residual effects 3 years later. Data from students' journals, narratives, essays, observations, and interviews indicated that the program had its intended effect to…

Used maternal beliefs, emotions, and experiences of Canadian and Swedish mothers to predict hypothetical physical punishment of preschoolers. Found that Canadians were more likely than Swedes to suggest physical punishment and demonstrate stronger support for spanking. Support for physical punishment and rating target misbehaviors as stable…

Assessed multiple features of social support provided by mothers, fathers, siblings, and friends to Indonesian and U.S. elementary and junior high school students. Found that Indonesian youth ranked family members higher and friends lower on companionship and satisfaction than did U.S. youth. Friends were seen as the primary sources of intimacy in…

Discusses combating racism in white and black co-worker relationships. Suggests engaging in self-examination, critical thinking, and actions such as building and maintaining genuine relationships, committing to an anti-racist group focused on unlearning racism, monitoring how one thinks and acts, and shifting the center by sharing power and…

Examines the history of students who cannot do what educators want them to do, noting how educators have labeled poor performers in different periods and how these labels reflect both attitudes and institutional conditions. The paper summarizes four major historical explanations for why children fail and explores implications of this history for…

Evaluated a restructured literacy methods course intended to empower teachers to teach linguistically diverse students, examining the impact of the course redesign and team teaching. Data from observations of student teachers and focus group interviews indicated that participants felt well-prepared to teach second language learners, though they…

In the last ten years, many colleges, universities, boards, and agencies have jumped on the diverse faculty/staff hiring bandwagon not only by issuing resolutions, policies, and mandates but also by inventing programs, initiatives, and strategies all intended to increase the number of faculty and staff of color in predominantly White institutions.…

This study examined how, in some instances, participation in the cultural practices of high school science classrooms created intrapersonal conflict for ethnic minority students. Discourse analysis of videotaped science classroom activities, lectures, and laboratories was the primary methodology employed for analyzing students' discursive identity…