The emphasis in gifted programs should be on the interests and needs of the students, rather than on preparing them to perform some social function, such as solving world problems, which require commitment of everyone rather than necessarily requiring intelligence and technology. This approach places unrealistic expectations on gifted students and…

Denis Doyle's proposal in the same "Kappan" issue is part of the recent campaign to persuade the public to privatize public education. Although some view private schools as beacons of transformation, the former are considerably less creative and diverse than public schools. Private companies will do no better than (underfunded) public agencies at…

Compared characteristics and behaviors of 211 male inpatients of an alcohol clinic and a random sample of 200 men from the greater Stockholm area. Those individuals from both groups who used alcohol and hepatotoxic drugs were equally likely to develop social maladjustment problems, including abuse of alcohol and drugs, while they were growing up.…

This article reframes school violence in the context of educational mission goals so that teachers can understand their role in responding to it and acknowledge their skills in addressing it. The article examines types of violence that occur most frequently in schools, evaluates what is known about teacher preparedness, and encourages educators to…

Maintains that, as a historian, social critic, and moralist, Christopher Lasch was a powerful presence in U.S. intellectual life. Presents an interview with Lasch prior to his death in February 1994. Reports that Lasch believed that optimism is a kind of investment in the future whereas hope is the rejection of envy and resentment. (CFR)

Reports on a study of 20 male and 20 female adults who responded to 2 forms of Kohlberg's tests. Concludes that the results are partially consistent with the possibility that Kohlberg's tests and scoring system are partially biased against females. (CFR)

Addresses concerns of African Americans about the public school art-education curriculum. A survey of general currents in art education is followed by discussion of specifically African American art education. It can be argued that the most successful way to inculcate respect for other cultures is to teach their art. (SLD)

Reunited Germany is facing an intricate network of social, economic, and political problems. It will take at least a generation of students to adapt to the new Western system espousing freedom of choice, self-motivation, equal opportunity, and critical awareness. Standards of the former West Germany are endangered by changing social attitudes,…

Critique on two overstatements about literacy: the illiteracy problem is much worse than many people think and is getting worse; and literacy development is both the cause and the solution to many social problems and will lead to economic development. Explores issues in literacy education such as skills versus processes, standardized testing,…

Examines the variety of informal groups of adolescents that exist throughout Russia today. Categorizes these groups according to their beliefs and behavior. Maintains that the situation of Russian young people today is a disaster zone. (CFR)

Introduces the articles in this issue on AIDs in various minority groups, with implications for social workers to improve prevention and education stategies. There is significant knowledge about AIDS, and attitudes related to the illness are more positive in the 1990s than in the 1980s. Suggests that having this information does not necessarily…

Describes the community participation facet of the eleventh-grade social studies curriculum for British Columbia. Proposes a four-stage model to identify, study, and propose recommendations about a community issue or problem. Suggests that social action based on empirical research improves social studies instruction. (CFR)

The Aspen Domestic Strategy Group exists to encourage a search for common ground on the nation's social challenges by bringing together leaders of diverse views and backgrounds. It is not expected to produce legislative proposals but rather a continuing conversation to shape a more coherent approach to domestic needs. (SLD)

Reviews six books: "Teacher Lore" (Schubert and Ayers), about teachers' accounts of their experience; "America's Best Classrooms" (Seymour and others); "Another Door to Learning," (Schwarz) about learning-disabled children; "Talking with Your Children about a Troubled World" (Dumas); "Our Family, Our…

Why conclusions of many outcome evaluations do not stand up to scrutiny is discussed, drawing on examples from evaluations of drug abuse prevention programs. Factors that undermine these studies are largely the result of social-structural problems that influence the design and implementation of the research. (SLD)