Discusses reforms in adoption practice and policy to deal with the growing number of children who, because of age, health, or family background, are difficult to place with traditional adoption practices. Focuses on such reforms as open adoption, increased access to adoption records, and streamlined agency and court processes. (MDM)

Reviews five books on talk in the classroom; teaching with humor and play; how children talk, write, dance, draw, and sing their understanding of the world; talented teenagers; and life histories of women teachers working for social change. (BAC)

Argues that to understand today's homeless crisis one must examine the policy decisions that brought it about. The paper explores that policy history, explains how it resulted in the series of dramatic demographic changes that have changed the nature of homelessness today, and suggests a comprehensive approach to lifting families out of…

Presents a historical perspective of the inception and development of an environmental group, Earth First. This account includes literary influences, leadership, goal development, philosophy, trends, and the organization's relationship to other environmental groups. (MCO)

Describes the Amnesty International USA's Urgent Action letter writing program for schoolchildren. Discusses monthly cases, preparation material for parents and teachers, opportunities for classroom discussion, and a sample letter. Suggests that the program can be an action component in social studies, civics, religion, ethics, and English…

Mary Slessor was a Scottish missionary who established many schools in Nigeria and developed close relationships with Nigerian chiefs and tribal members. She championed women's rights and focused her educational endeavors on vocational training relevant to the local economy. Slessor incorporated her knowledge of Nigerian culture into her teaching…

Discusses the significance of Irwin Abrams to the field of peace history. Describes Abrams' personal life, his work with the American Friends Service Committee, his scholarly work, and his leadership in peace history. Concludes by discussing his research on the Nobel Peace Prize and its recipients. (CFR)

A personal perspective is offered on historical events in the field of mental retardation, focusing on conditions in residential institutions in Europe, Canada, and the United States and the development of educational programs. Positive developments, old problems that still exist, new problems that have arisen, and action implications are…

Argues that neglecting the high percentages of neutral survey responses on some environmental issues may distort the picture of respondents' attitudes toward the environment and compromise valuable information on these issues. (DDR)

Traces the rationale for the development of unique talents to William James (1902) and suggests a relationship between this process and the maturity of one's ethos. Curricular opportunities to stimulate gifted students to use their creativity productively to make their world a better place are discussed. (Author/CR)

Insights from chaos theory--the interconnectedness of everything, nonlinear cause and effect, leverage and the "tipping point," and the importance of aligning interventions within a system--are applied to social action and illustrated via the role of adventure education in school and community interventions in the Brattleboro (Vermont) Leadership…

Maintains that reimagining God through metaphors that counter patriarchy can become a liberating and transformational pathway for a healing community. Proposes two metaphorical constructions, "bodyfaith" and "the mind's heart," to act as tools to imagine a healing agenda within education. Considers the role of educational healing within a…

Argues that black women formed a crucial part of the evolution of ideals of mutual aid and collective action from the period of slavery onward. Traces the process from mutual aid societies, continuing through literary and antislavery groups and beyond. Recounts the experiences of a number of black women. (DSK)

Addresses questions about how old social causes get revived, and how small, politically insignificant interest groups mount viable campaigns against dominant political views. Examines the strategies of two multifaith religious coalitions in Ontario, Canada, that are gaining political ground by reframing traditional arguments for religious…

Compares levels of status quo support in three television news stories of a single protest event. Finds that status quo support had significant effects on undergraduate viewers, leading them to be: more critical of, and less likely to identify with, the protesters; less critical of the police; and less likely to support the protesters' expressive…