Charter schools are largely viewed as a major innovation in the public school landscape, as they receive more independence from state laws and regulations than do traditional public schools, and are therefore more able to experiment with alternative curricula, pedagogical methods, and different ways of hiring and training teachers. Unlike…

Reviews the 1989 report, "A Common Destiny: Blacks and American Society," which examines the anticipated and unanticipated consequences of initiatives since 1940 to improve the Blacks' social position. Criticizes the report for omitting evidence concerning racial differences in intelligence and criminal activity at the individual level. (FMW)

Criticizes the development of current Federal policy for dealing with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic based on the individual responsibility of minority group victims. Argues that AIDS should be combatted through a materialist-realist perspective that acknowledges the influence of social and environmental pressures. (FMW)