Reviews the political controversy regarding the National Endowment for the Arts and the relationship of art to human existence. Argues that art is an essential aspect of the human spirit. Proposes a definition of art as human activity that illuminates the universal qualities of a particular action or experience. (CFR)

Evaluated academic lives of 53 women who, in 1988, entered Eureka Program, 2-year mathematics/science intervention program for women students at Brooklyn College. Program persisters were characterized by high self-esteem, better mathematics or science backgrounds, early decision on science major, higher grades in college mathematics courses,…

A survey investigated the lifelong productivity of 30 women research associates who worked on a longitudinal study of gifted children. Most of the women appear to have had satisfying personal lives in addition to productive professional careers. Personal responsibilities appear to have affected levels of productivity more than societal…

Examines the dimensions of environmental quality and socioeconomic concern among residents of a small but spatially and demographically dynamic city in southern Africa. Environmental quality issues compete with socioeconomic concerns for people's attention, and the issues are more recognized by better-educated and well-off residents. Concludes…

Alternative perspectives are presented on the issue of rational suicide. An operational definition is provided; areas needing clarification are highlighted. The meta-issues are reviewed with regard to specific points raised by Lokhandwala and Westefeld. Concerns with research often cited to question the possibility of rational suicide are…

Looks at the importance of creativity in the context of family therapy. Examines creative techniques such as family sculpturing, family art therapy, puppetry, family drawings, and psychodrama. Focuses on the concept of creativity in prominent theories of counseling (i.e., humanistic, Gestalt, cognitive psychology) and the relation of divergent…

A review of eight studies investigated the life quality of people caring for a relative with a severe disability within their family. An analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data indicate that primary caregivers are at considerable risk of high stress, clinical depression, and abnormally low subjective quality of life. (Contains…

This survey examined benefits received by 56 vocational services customers through the Illinois Bureau of Blind Services (BBS). Consumers reported high levels of satisfaction with the services, substantial improvements in mobility and daily living skills, and a sense that the BBS had improved their overall quality of life. (PB)

Study compared black and white female retirees' (n=618) life satisfaction and determinants of life satisfaction. Survey results found differences between the groups in life satisfaction. Perceived health and leisure repertoire planning directly affected both groups' life satisfaction. Leisure activity directly affected whites. Leisure repertoire…

Client-case manager matches (n=75) from the outpatient services of an urban mental health department were selected to examine case managers' perceived racial sensitivity and its effect on African American clients. Findings demonstrated that case managers were more likely to be perceived as sensitive if they were a minority, female, and a degreed…

Interviews Robert Barrage, a corporate industrial designer turned painter, who discusses his art degree, career change, his daily schedule, where he gets ideas for his work, how he creates his paintings, his teaching experiences, and ideas about teaching art to children. (CMK)

Responds to a conference held in March 1996 entitled "Ongoing Inquiry" and designed to present the research methods and results of a five-year study of aesthetic education at the Lincoln Center Institute (New York). Discusses the assessment methods used, the assumptions underlying the assessment project, and the value of aesthetic education…

This article on speech-language therapy argues that new emphases on the client's life participation, involvement in clinical decision making, and cultural sensitivity should be seen as additions rather than alternatives to therapeutic impairment-oriented approaches. It proposes that the client's progression toward life goals be the standard used…

Exploratory Practice (EP) has been developed over the last 15 or so years as an approach to practitioner research that is devoted to understanding the quality of language classroom life. It started in reaction both to academic classroom research and to Action Research, the practitioner research model most in vogue at that time in our field. At…

The potential for explosive urban sprawl is what motivated these authors to create a unit on community planning and the visual environment. They thought this unit would be an excellent way to engage students in a real-world issue that was relevant to their lives, while at the same time addressing social studies, language arts, and science content…