Presents results of a study examining the cultural generalizability of the negative relationship between depression and self-enhancement in Japanese and U.S. students. Reports that Japanese students were found to be more depressed and less self-serving than U.S. students. Concludes that, relative to U.S. students, Japanese students had a negative…

Summarizes a study comparing the value orientations of U.S. and Zimbabwean students. Reports that the study found significant sex differences within each cultural group. Concludes that the marked differences between the two cultural groups are consistent with cultural, economic, and historical influences. (DK)

Urges exposure of college students to different philosophies and world views. Describes the reasoning, preparation, and experience of having a Marxist representative speak to a class on comparative education. Insists that the teacher cannot present an adversary's arguments as a believer would. Argues that exposure to other views produces critical…

A study of sociocultural and gender differences in Arab (n=209) and Jewish (n=184) first-year college students' perceptions of major sources of academic stress, and relationship with achievement, found cultural group background the most salient background predictor of success, followed by social class and gender, with noninteractive effects. A…

Discusses the maintenance and future of African-American studies within the context of contemporary intellectual ideas. The institutionalization of African-American studies and the creation of the first doctoral program in African-American studies at Temple University in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) marked the flowering of the discipline. (SLD)

Promulgates the position that the overpopulation issue is being coopted for women's health and social status. Questions whether or not raising women's status in itself will have any significant impact on lowering fertility rates. Suggests that the attempt to stabilize populations through empowerment of women is a dangerous mistake in societies…

Explores the significance of listening to multiple voices in constructing the conversation that distinguishes our culture. Pluralism and multiculturalism are discussed in terms of concrete engagements with persons who have historically not been acknowledged. Learning to look through multiple perspectives helps young people build bridges to…

Reviews the participation of various ethnic groups in baseball, and suggests that librarians and teachers can explore the richness and diversity of the American immigrant experience through the growing world of baseball nonfiction. The high-interest material of baseball literature portrays the vibrant and evolving American society. (SLD)

In reforming curricula to achieve a multicultural perspective, the goal is not to emphasize the contributions of various groups but rather to understand how we all emerged from complex syntheses and intergroup relations. The new emphasis on multiculturalism and minority and gender studies is enhancing U.S. education. (SLD)

Latvians are among the ethnic groups dispersed to many parts of the world. The history of the Latvian diaspora is traced, and the maintenance of Latvian ethnic identity is explored, including the status of Latvian libraries. Latvian independence is expected to have an impact on Latvian culture abroad. (SLD)

Discussion of public libraries' information and referral services for culturally diverse communities focuses on a study conducted in southern California that examined the information seeking behavior of ethnolinguistic gatekeepers in minority communities. Topics addressed include information and referral models; information sources; the perception…

Designing school-linked services that take into account the growing diversity of the nation's population requires individuals and organizations to address several difficult issues, beginning with understanding language and culture. Building trust is perhaps the biggest challenge to developing effective collaboration. (SLD)

Examined self-report cross-sectional and longitudinal data on associations between drug use, suicide ideation, and attempts among seventh-and eighth-grade males. African Americans had highest prevalence of six-month ideation; Haitians had highest attempts. For total sample, tranquilizers had highest odds ratio for ideation. Psychoactive drug use…

Traditional rhymes and folktales can offer understanding of our customs and culture but also contain elements that can raise obstacles to the academic and social development of young children, especially those from other cultures. Consider the following when evaluating traditional literature: meaningful language, unintentional promotion of…

The extent to which the Joint Committee "Standards" for evaluation might be used to develop culturally relevant standards for use in other countries and how they might be modified for use in cross-cultural settings were explored using Malta and India as examples. Substantial modifications are probably necessary. (SLD)