Discusses a sixth grade teacher's experience in turning a classroom project into a book. Offers advice for teachers on becoming writers. Explores obstacles, benefits, and suggestions on writing, editing, and publishing work. Describes a class project that resulted in the cleanup of a toxic waste site and the publication of "The Kid's Guide to…

Because of its comprehensive child welfare system, Denmark has a large number of children in out-of-home care. The system is strained under present social conditions. Government-funded efforts are being implemented to improve policies, programs, and use of placement and treatment resources. (BC)

Asserts that social educators promote the civic competence of young people by conveying the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for taking productive social action. Maintains that quality trade books introduce children to people of diverse backgrounds who model difficult aspects of civic competence. (CFR)

Examines the Depression era Townsend Movement that pressed for old age pensions. Compares this movement with a model social movement to explore what facilitates the development of movements and what determines their success or failure. Concludes that the political mediation model explains successes as reinforced political action with strong member…

Describes the following summer camps that challenge children to broaden their world views: (1) Encampment for Citizenship (California); (2) Highlander Research and Education Center (Tennessee); (3) Camp It Up (California); (4) Timber Trails Camps (Connecticut); (5) Children Connected to Their Culture Summer Camp (Kentucky); and (6) Westwood…

Analyzes differences among high school political activists with conservative, liberal, and left perspectives. Discusses gender differences in the Bem Sex Role Inventory and other politically associated behaviors. No gender differences were found on extent of political activity. Females more often presented future family life as a limitation on…

Examines the contemporary community service movement by using as a theoretical framework recent work on personal competence and voluntary prosocial action. Explores the connections between personal competence and helping behavior in college students. Findings indicate that the relative importance of personal aims is above social concerns. (JS)

Contends that welfare reform should be focused on the well-being of children. Indicates the kinds of concerns that the new welfare reform act should consider. Examines each title of the Family Support Act of 1988. Discusses the implications of each for children. (JS)

Focuses on a region of the northwestern United States that is experiencing tremendous change as traditional occupations give way to commercial and residential development. Examines, not literacy requirements in particular workplaces or industries, but "literate action" in the context of such change, action necessitated by the economic,…

Describes a 10-week unit in an eighth-grade English class focusing on social-action writing. Describes how the process involved convincing students of their ability to make a difference, studying persuasive writing, reading and discussing to wake up their social consciences, using various strategies to choose topics, and finally culminating in…

Puts forth a theory of popular education, the elements of which include (1) an emphasis on the relationship of education and learning to collective and emancipatory struggle, and (2) an analytical framework which connects learning and education with analysis of political economy and ideology. Tests the theory through a case study of Australian…

Reviews grassroots initiatives in Brazil, arguing that despite differences in composition and aims, movements such as landless rural workers, indigenous groups, and the women's movement that have attempted to shift current socioeconomic order toward a new equilibrium, are best described as historic movements. Describes these movements in relation…

Addresses both the need to gather data related to pending federal legislation having an impact on the elementary school counselor, with the intent to provide the results of that data to members of Congress, and to heighten awareness of the need to provide elementary school counseling opportunities in the rural regions of one midwestern state. (KW)

Offers an account of a group of high school students who translated critical thinking into action, through their Riverside High Social Justice and Equity Group. Illustrates the degree of discomfort that may be engendered when students offer other "readings" of their schools and attempt to rewrite power relations in active constructions…

Explores the conception of the market in Russia, focusing on teachers' and students' attitudes towards the free market and their value orientations. Addresses social policy and the characteristics of Russia's transition to the market economy, both of which need to be accounted for in the course of implementing economic and social reforms. (CMK)