As the authors, a Midwestern American educational administration professor and a Middle Eastern Iraqi doctoral candidate, have continued to interact over the past 3 years, both have come to appreciate the importance of increasing their tolerance for ambiguity--ambiguities in examining cultural, linguistic, and religious customs and complexities in…

School leadership has never been easy. However, some experts like Garcia (2005) wrote that current school leaders are facing a variety of difficulties that make sustaining school reform efforts exceedingly difficult. Collectively, these modern day challenges have the capacity to form the perfect storm. School leaders need effective strategies to…

Considers stress management and coping studies in health care insufficiently grounded in theory; researchers have not adequately considered demands presented by stressor under study. Explores this theme in five areas: (1) effectiveness of problem- versus emotion-focused coping strategies; (2) effectiveness of interventions; (3) role of individual…

In family counseling, the therapist must take into account the developmental level and contextual framework of the family. Within the family, anger can occur over both intrapersonal and interpersonal issues. The therapist must determine the cause for the anger, how it is manifest, and what it represents. Some possible causes for anger within the…

The parent of a head injured young adult recounts her family's problems learning to cope and gives other examples of the effects of head injuries on sons and daughters, husbands, and wives. Successful and unsuccessful patterns of family coping are noted. (DB)

Discusses the characteristics of resilient children that allow them to persevere in the face of adversity. Relates the story of a troubled adolescent who exhibited resiliency and who, with a teacher's help, changed her life. Offers 22 suggestions for working with troubled children. (TJQ)

Colleges and universities, like corporations and other nonprofit organizations, are subject to periodic fluctuations in the economy and public support. Thus, the question is not whether they will confront financial problems but rather when and how. This article describes how institutions and boards can detect budgets in crisis, provides principles…

Mental illness has far-reaching effects on other family members although family impact of mental illness has not received much attention from sociologists. Applies an illness behavior perspective to the study of family burden, reviews knowledge, and invites research by defining a number of issues, substantive and methodological, that need to be…

Discusses ways the novels of Robin Brancato help children learn about adversity and cope with hardship. (FL)

In this article, the author responds to a teacher's request for advice on how to handle a child in her class who keeps on shoving and bopping other children, sometimes hitting them on the head with hard objects. The author offers support and suggestions on how to help children who use negative behavior to communicate their wants and needs. She…

Reviews several assumptions commonly made about the grieving process: that depression is inevitable; that distress is necessary and failure to experience it indicates pathology; that it is necessary to "work through" a loss; and that recovery and resolution are to be expected following loss. Notes that available empirical work fails to support and…

Preserving and enhancing the quality of the human environment requires holistic approaches to problems. Educators should encourage multi-disciplinary thought in the classroom. One area that has great potential for strengthening the integrative aspects of education is geography. (RM)

This booklet is written for physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other health care professionals who must deal with children with a life-threatening illness. It is for health care professionals who seek to help the child live as normal a life as possible in spite of a difficult situation. In five sections, the writings and…

Discusses the emotional turmoil experienced by a child of divorce and the role of the teacher in providing the child with stability and understanding. (Author/DB)

This paper explores social and psychological issues facing those with acquired hearing loss, including self-identity, dealing with the loss, communication issues, and the impact of hearing impairment on significant others. Strategies and innovative approaches to promoting the well-being of deafened and hard-of-hearing individuals and their…