To meet new needs, society has raised its requirements with respect to basic education and redefined illiteracy. A 1989 survey found that 38 percent of the Canadian adult population have reading problems. Illiteracy is a social problem involving the entire community. The social cost is counted by the millions prevented from exercising their rights…

The Gulf Crisis that erupted in August, 1990 brought Jordan widespread economic devastation, increased poverty, the threat of hunger, health setbacks, and other hardships. Just as the country's economy was beginning to pull out of a lingering recession, Jordan was struck by the economic embargo against Iraq, the influx of over a million evacuees…

This public policy agenda lists the most pressing priorities for Puerto Ricans in the 1990s. The following education goals are outlined: (1) expand dropout prevention programs; (2) improve vocational and technical education; and (3) improve monitoring of the educational performance of Puerto Ricans. The following Acquired Immune Deficiency…

This article discusses the history of the sociology of deviance and the exclusion from society of individuals who do not meet norms, and argues for a sociology emphasizing acceptance of differences on individual, group, and societal levels. Types of relationships based on mutual acceptance are discussed along with generalizations regarding the…

This working paper discusses the effects of recent legislative changes regarding divorce in Australia. The introduction describes the 1975 Family Law Act and gives a summary of its principles. The second section presents background information to the Act and lists the philosophical principles behind its formation. The third section describes…

Longitudinal studies of the effects of aggression and social withdrawal on later development contribute to an understanding of how socially deviant behaviors may affect future adaptation. This study is concerned with how aggression and social withdrawal are related to criminal activity approximately 10 years after individuals were initially…

Locating the issue of abortion in a global public policy context, with the array of public health, human rights, and social questions that are implicated, is the aim of this paper. Abortion laws around the world have been liberalized since the 1950s, with a resultant decrease in abortion-related mortality among women. The proportion of the world's…

The 10 precepts offered in this paper in a spirit of tentativeness respond to the questions, "What ought society do when families crumble?" and "What ought government do when children are endangered?" The following ideas are discussed: (1) public policies and government programs should be differentiated according to the social capital accumulation…

Second in a series of studies examining the patterns of poverty in the South, this report analyses the level of government benefits available to the southern poor from 1980 through 1984. The examination is restricted to four programs: Aid to Families With Dependent Children, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Supplemental Security Income. The states…

Statistics reveal that about 90 percent of all working women in the United States will bear a child. Yet the United States is the only highly developed nation that does not have a national maternity leave policy. What can and should be done to address this disparity? Perhaps valuable lessons can be learned from the 117 countries that guarantee…

If a loss function is available specifying the social cost of an error of measurement in the score on a unidimensional test, an asymptotic method, based on item response theory, is developed for optimal test design for a specified target population of examinees. Since in the real world such loss functions are not available, it is more useful to…

The guide is designed to help educators integrate the study of aging into the high school curriculum. Objectives are to promote and support the study of aging and the aging process, dispel popular misconceptions surrounding aging, aid educators in establishing programs with, by, and for seniors, and provide a list of helpful resource groups.…

This document reviews the problem of family violence, including child abuse, spouse abuse, and elder abuse. The role of the Justice System is outlined with recommendations for law enforcement, for prosecutors, and for judges. Needs and recommendations for victim assistance are discussed, as are the issues of prevention and awareness, education and…

The first five papers in these proceedings focus on the organization and process of the International League for Social Commitment in Adult Education (ILSCAE). They are "Product into Process: The International League, Its Background, Organization, and Structure" (Anette Svensson, Alan Tuckett); "The Language Question" (John Payne); "Gender Issues"…

This digest discusses the issue of stopping drug abuse as a national priority. Several aspects of the drug abuse issue are covered in question-and-answer format: (1) Why should educators be concerned about drug abuse by students? (2) What are school districts doing to stop drug abuse? (3) What social issues are involved? (4) How can schools plan…