Examines the relationships among social status, proximate family settings, student responsibility for school outcomes, and self-concepts of 460 South African high school students. Reports that social status, family settings, and student responsibility had modest to strong associations with self-concept development including gender-related…

Details four tennis coaching principles that can be applied in a variety of settings to help children develop better self-esteem, concentration, cooperation, and other life skills: (1) recognize every child's potential; (2) encourage children; (3) give specific feedback; and (4) provide appropriate challenges. (SD)

The author's experience of discovering his own ethnocentrism is described. Factors which helped him process feelings, learn from mistakes, and move forward are discussed. The challenge of dealing with various people, culturally different from oneself, who may react in different ways for different reasons is discussed. (EMK)

Understanding the collective versus individualistic viewpoint is important to understanding racism in America. The author applies lessons learned in dealing with homophobia to the matter of racism. Forming for oneself a white version of racial identity is the key to white's active personal involvement and identification with being anti-racist.…

This study explored how ethnicity influenced sexual identity development in 139 sexual-minority males. Findings demonstrated that participants, regardless of ethnicity, experienced most identity milestones at developmentally appropriate ages, had moderately low internalized homophobia, and became romantically and sexually involved with other males…

A 5-day school-based experiential personal development course was evaluated via pre- and post-program pupil self-assessment questionnaires administered at three comprehensive schools in northern England. Behavior changes were modest, except in confidence, where students at one school showed substantial improvement. Results were used to make course…

Discusses stages of identity development in early childhood, as well as ways teachers can be supportive of that development. Addresses components of identity development in young children, parental preferences, valuing diversity, and curriculum recommendations. Provides suggestions appropriate for children of any racial combination. (SD)

Through informed use of such electronic tools as Web sites, electronic discussion lists, and e-mail, school library media specialists can assume responsibility for their own professional growth and can actively influence issues and institutions that are important to their professional lives. Discussion includes recognizing information needs;…

Compared adolescents' (14 to 20 years) and young adults' (21 to 37 years) wisdom-related knowledge and judgment related to difficult and ill-defined life dilemmas. Rated responses along five wisdom criteria. Found that adolescents performed at lower levels than young adults but also demonstrated substantial age increments in performance.…

Explores why Thinking Skills/Cognitive Acceleration programs have struggled to make an impact, noting that classrooms are resistant to the kind of change these programs demand. Considers five constructs of teacher development (socialization, craft knowledge and expert-novice, "pedagogical" content knowledge, images of teaching, and…

This paper conceptualises a basis for understanding learning in workplaces. This comprises a duality between how access to workplace activities and guidance is afforded, on the one hand, and how workers elect to engage with what is afforded to them, on the other. This reciprocal basis for thinking, acting and learning is referred to as…

This article is based on a broad study commissioned by Sida (Swedish International Development Agency) on the status and current trends in adult basic education in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The study included a review of relevant documentation in several languages, an electronic survey with key respondents throughout the…

The concept of quality of life currently impacts program development, service delivery, management strategies, and outcome evaluation in the area of intellectual disabilities. Maryland uses peer interviewers to assess consumer-perceived quality of life among adult recipients of MR/DD services and supports. In this article we describe the survey…

Explores Christian college students views of self and of a Christian God. Discusses differences in views between men and women. Suggests that the Christian liberal arts context nurtures integrated and complex views of the self, but authoritative views of God. Notes authoritative views of God shaped the heavy justice self-ethic. (CAJ)

It has been 20 years since Bever's (1982) and Strauss and Stavy's (1982) books on U-shaped functions in human development were published. The three target articles in this issue describe several old and new U-shaped functions and new theoretical explanations for their existence. In this article, the authors will comment on two aspects of U-shaped…