Discusses development of Early Childhood Studies (ECS) programs in Britain within social, political, and ideological context, and how ECS degrees could affect early-childhood workforce, parents, children, and society in general. Includes description of ECS programs at five institutions. (LBT)

Government and corporations are not the most effective implementers of community development. Mediating structures such as universities can play this role by bringing together people with diverse interests, providing access to historical materials, and emphasizing social action. (SK)

Uses examples of the University of Illinois at Chicago Neighborhoods Initiative (UICNI) and Policy Research Action Group (PRAG) to show how strong, viable university/community collaborations can occur. Points to a new research model and key lessons learned on how to use collaborative partnerships to enhance social action on urban problems. (DSK)

A study examined the practices of 121 school-based intervention teams from Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Findings revealed several positive practices by teams from all states; however, teams from Illinois displayed consistent superiority across several measures. Discussion focuses on implications for practice and educational and legal reform.…

Details an environmental education course in which students begin a long-term study of water quality in the watershed of a local river, document the habits of aquatic animals, and use federal and state laws to provide protection for these wetlands. (DDR)

Reprints of two Harvard Educational Review articles from 1970, "The Adult Literacy Process in Cultural Action for Freedom" and "Cultural Action and Conscientization," highlight the importance of education to human rights. (SK)

Describes development of a multicultural education model by students in a high school mass media class. Using a literary and social action approach, students examine issues of empowerment, prejudice reduction, ethnic identity, school reform and discipline. Spontaneous participation of black students was an unexpected outcome. (MMU)

Describes a high school-level multicultural course designed to challenge the predominantly white students to reflect upon system power inequities that benefitted many of them directly. Students engaged in social action projects, working with people unlike themselves in organizations that had social justice orientations. Evaluations indicated that…

Describes a hypothetical elementary school that is centered on social studies and social action, focusing on three practices at such a school: democratic education, education for social justice, and community service learning. Challenges to social action in U.S. schools include teachers' time limitations, curriculum standards, and emphasis on…

Reviews implementation and effects of three child support reforms in Wisconsin to determine the child support policies that yield the greatest benefit to dependent children. Expressing child support orders as a percentage of noncustodial parent's income increases amount of orders and payments. Withholding payment from noncustodial parents' income…

Suggests that a combination of humanistic education and critical theory concepts can lead to a means to teach responsible social action. Develops a research-based model of social action using personal development skills, negotiated teaching methods, and the group investigation of social concerns. (JPS)

Explores elements for a theoretical framework for radical adult education, based primarily on ideas of Gramsci and Freire. Discusses commitment of adult educators to social transformation, consciousness raising related to power relations and global capitalism, emancipatory adult education as part of social movements, role of the adult educator,…

Addresses why Charles Beard's reputation as a historian deteriorated, provides information on his life, and discusses his conceptions of history. Considers Beard's notions of social studies education, focusing on his ten social goals, the 12 characteristics of the "individual side" of social studies, and his proposed curricular plan. (CMK)

Explores the planning processes a grassroots environmental group used to determine its goals for its Websites; examines the rhetoric of two of the group's Websites; and studies the reactions of audiences of the Websites to their Web rhetoric. Provides people working in small organizations with information about how they might improve the…

Focuses on the organization Young Aspirations/Young Artists, or YA/YA, that was founded by New Orleans (Louisiana) artist Jana Napoli after inviting high school students to her studio. Provides background information on YA/YA. States that the organization works within the framework of capitalism and gives a voice to adolescents. (CMK)