States that role-socialization theory is a useful framework for understanding the experiences of new department chairs and for meeting their professional-development needs. Describes the approaches used by 59 chairs in Texas to learn their new jobs, and illustrates the need for formalized chair-training programs. Contains 11 references. (VWC)

Argues that social-studies curricula should foster values and practices consistent with democratic values; that this requires critical thinkers who can make informed decisions; and that decision making is based on being able to ask good, probing questions. Discusses the nature of middle-school learners, the strengthening of democracy, and…

Uses the concept of root metaphors to analyze the discourse of mothers, college students, and early childhood teachers regarding children, development, and learning. Found that preschool teachers offered more uniform views of children than other groups. Maintains a one source of miscommunication about children is the differing implicit ideas about…

Individual factors, such as socioeconomic background and streaming choices (at the secondary level), contribute significantly to educational inequalities. Families have unequal resources to manage their children's schooling careers in an increasingly complex, decentralized system. The class or school attended widens gaps in academic results and…

Building social capital for poor children is an important endeavor. Disadvantaged children generally lack a network that allows them to thrive in school and achieve a sense of belonging. Schools in impoverished neighborhoods can strengthen ties to students by building links to the community, becoming full-service community schools, and joining…

Based on Social Learning Theory, the Take Five program was taught to middle school students in two Nevada schools. Students' attitudes about the acceptability of eating fruits and vegetables improved significantly. Students demonstrated a high level of knowledge of the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables on the pretest with no…

By 2010, whites will comprise only 9% of the world's population--the smallest ethnic minority. While 26% of all Americans are nonwhite, among schoolchildren it is 36% The North's populations are old, white, wealthy, well educated, and declining. The South and West's populations are young, ethnically diverse, poorer, less educated, and increasing.…

Adventure programs should go beyond the "four Fs" of diversity activities (food, fashion, festivals, and facts) to explore differences and their implications for social justice. Possible group activities include sharing ethnic and family traditions surrounding a person's name and focusing on the cycle of socialization related to…

Explores ways in which college students' community service contributes to citizenship education. A qualitative study over six years, involving interviews, surveys, and observation of students, examined how a more caring sense of self may be enhanced through student involvement. Three major themes in student experiences are discussed: exploration…

Characterizes the telling and learning of political jokes as a powerful socializing tool for children to learn about the world. Maintains that this activity serves as a means of storing and transmitting social knowledge as well as information about the world of public affairs. Includes some representative examples. (MJP)

Describes the controversy in hearing-impaired education between advocates of unisensory and multisensory approaches to communication for learning and socialization. Concludes that the multisensory approach is superior after reviewing arguments from developmental and perceptual theories, information processing, early intervention pedagogy, and…

Questions which familial socialization conditions are related systematically to individual student educational careers and motivations to learn. Assumes that students' motivations and aspirations are influenced by their parents' school-related practices. Concludes that autonomy-promoting, supportive pedagogical practices promote motivation to…

Assessed the relative contribution of gender and gender role orientation to empathy and its development in 119 Israeli 8th and 11th graders. When the contribution of masculinity/femininity was covaried, empathy was found unrelated to gender. Findings are discussed in terms of socialization of emotions and gender role orientation. (SLD)

Reviews the many dramatically different forms of school choice proposals, warning against implementing sharply limited and regulated school choice plans and arguing that if the failure of school choice is wrongly attributed to too much choice rather than too little, broader and freer experiments in choice could be politically doomed. Focuses on…

Discusses five Montessori insights about children's development as they relate to family and school life: independence and autonomy, community and socialization, interest in culture and morality, preadolescents' apprenticeship for adulthood, and adult acceptance of the evidence of change. Notes that underlying dynamics of home and school are alike…