Analyzes new estimates of elementary education enrollment rates for 126 nations and colonies from 1870-1940. States that the expansion of elementary education was more uneven, tentative, and varied in this period, suggesting that social, economic, political, and religious conditions greatly affected the extension of schooling before World War II.…

Discusses development inadequacies of recent scholarship on professionalism. In the last four decades historians and social scientists have developed increasingly negative opinions of and approaches to the professions. They falsely attribute historical trends to the ascendence of professions in American society. (PS)

This study examined how changing social conditions in the West Germany influenced the "educational trajectories" of survey respondents born in 1929-31, 1939-41, and 1949-51. Concludes that different birth cohorts were affected to a different extent by the same historical developments because of vulnerable and less vulnerable phases of…

Explores the relationship between Herbert Marcuse's theory of "surplus repression" and Freud's theory of the "unconscious" with respect to latent, hidden, covert, or subliminal aspects of racism in the United States. Argues that unconscious racism, manifested in evasion/avoidance, acting out/projection, and attempted…

Average household size in the United States fell steadily throughout the 1970s due to decrease in the size of family households during the first half of the decade, and proportional decline of married-couple households during the second half of the decade. The slower rate of decline in the 1980s represents a continuation of these trends.…

Demonstrates specific exercises designed to show students how popular cultural materials can be used as historical documents and the potential pitfalls inherent in this process. Examines Warner Brothers cartoons, relating the plot to the socio-historical roots of the cartoons. Concludes that this technique helps students better understand…

Describes trends and developments that are influencing child day care. (HOD)

Social trends of the last 35 years are traced through an examination of Newbery Medal winners from 1951 to 1985. Idealism and realism in children's literature, the sex of the main characters, and the effects of changes in the publishing industry on children's books are discussed. (EM)

Theorist William J. Wilson proposes that the increasing problems of inner-city minority groups stem not from a ghetto culture of poverty, as some contend, but from growing social isolation of poor Blacks and Hispanics and from changes in the economy. (MSE)

Offers an analytical model to assist teachers and students in decoding social and cultural meaning embedded in the visual track of any given television program. To illustrate the model, the Public Broadcasting System's production of "The Scarlet Letter" is analyzed. (MBR)

Presents a broad range of statistical data on the welfare of White adolescents, ages 16 and 17. Focuses on poverty, family, the school, government programs, academic performance, moral character, and health. Reports that adolescent welfare has declined in every area since 1960 and discusses the implications for social scientists and policymakers.…

This study examines culture-free and culture-bound hypotheses used to explain organizational structures. A survey of Hong Kong Chinese managerial employees in 20 multinational banks examined work satisfaction with relation to organizational structure, controlling for job structure and individual attributes. Findings generally supported the…

The new "civic religion" presents a danger to both education and society. Educational policymakers have adopted an established religion, or official value system by which decisions are made. It is suggested that society and education will do better without a common set of beliefs and values. (DF)

Identifies sociocultural factors contributing to the current emphasis on thinness, examines the negative impact this has had on women's body image, identifies major risk factors in the development of negative body image, and presents focus issues and related strategies designed to enhance body image and prevent development of related problems.…

The National Children and Youth Fitness Study was developed to examine physical fitness of children, describe their physical activity patterns, and identify those activity factors that make children fit. Background, procedures, and issues from the study are explored. (DF)