Examined the stability and circumstances of helping behaviors of 51 children of 41-69 months in a preschool classroom. Frequency of helping behaviors was not correlated with age or sex and was not stable over four 10-minute observation periods. Most helping acts were performed during nonimaginary play. (RJC)

This article discusses similarities in the cultural and attitudinal factors which perpetuate myths and stigmas associated with female and disabled persons' involvement in sports and athletics. (IAH)

Examines aspects of the adult lives of wholly or partly home-educated people. Found that all who attempted higher education were successful, that there was no evidence of prejudice regarding employment, and that the socialization of home-educated students was often better than that of their schooled peers. (JOW)

This article discusses the concept of the forum as a form of "political conversation" in America. Two forum models (liberal and democratic) are contrasted on the basis of educational objective, experiential analogy, consensus goal, and forum participants. (IAH)

If educators cease trying to teach difficult students, there will be no one left to enculturate them. Violence is unleased in the presence of broken social bonds, unmanageable doses of stress and conflict, our violent culture, and brain abnormalities. Teachers cannot reform society, but can achieve major victories on three fronts: primary…

Reports on a longitudinal study of 144 young adolescents which hypothesized that boys and girls would experience increased gender-differential socialization across a 1-year period in which parents maintained a traditional division of labor, and there was a younger sibling of the opposite gender. Provides longitudinal analyses of three aspects of…

Religious conservatives and political libertarians share a family-centered vision of home schooling. Conservatives' home-schooling plans are usually based on Christian ethics and feature a core group of subjects--reading, writing, mathematics, science, religious studies, and history. The author and his wife, both certified teachers and…

A survey of 16 adolescents, 11 mothers, and 11 fathers found remarkably similar economic value orientations, supporting consumer socialization theories. Inclusion of families as socializing agents and knowledge of adolescent development are recommended for consumer education. (SK)

Summarizes a study to determine the job skills needed by beginning U.S. principals. Data were collected from both practicing and aspiring principals. The two groups disclosed major perceptual differences. Whereas aspiring administrators believe that demonstrating technical skills is most important, their experienced colleagues believe it is more…

Highlights key findings described in Barrie Thorne's book, "Gender Play: Girls and Boys in School," which reports research focusing on American children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Indicates that gender segregation starts at birth and that socialization and the environment are the most salient factors in gender segregation. (AC)

Suggests that the study reported in this monograph indicates that the bias toward verbal instead of nonverbal interaction should give way, and avoids the tendency to dichotomize outcomes. Also suggests that scholars who study older children's learning should attend to nonverbal acts, focus on responsibility in learning, and emphasize attention to…

Examines how parental and peer sexual-socialization influences are related to gender, ethnicity, religious background, and college membership in a fraternity or sorority. Findings are based on responses from 557 college students and are discussed with respect to the concerns of social scientists regarding the influence of fraternities and…

This response to criticism of a previous article discusses the ways in which learners exist in and move through communities and how changing locations affect learning processes. Topics addressed include prior knowledge; practice-based, situated learning; political philosophy; learning as a social practice; and implications for the design of…

A model of diversity in nonprofit boards has these elements: use of language to further interests, levels of civic participation, social exchanges and incentives, socialization and acculturation of board members, and board composition and representation. Attention to these elements can foster inclusive, functionally diverse boards. (SK)

Describes perspectives on the socialization of cognition and emotion and discusses limitations of these perspectives. Key findings from one field are used to extend work in the other, and are interpreted in the framework of Vygotsky's zone of proximal development. (Author/BB)