This essay reviews the last two decades in the field of child abuse and neglect and notes progress in societal attitudes. It urges making the case against hitting children and suggests the use of scientific evidence, personal testimony, and demonstration of "a better way." Major issues of language and the setting of standards in caregiving are…

Historically, racism has been given as an ideological, political, social, and economic justification by one group to exploit others. Suggests that we tend to underestimate the extent of personal and institutional racism by neglecting "unintentional racism" and by presuming that scientific objectivity will protect us from being racist.…

Argues that ageism fosters oppressive social relations directed at, and constructed in, images of the aged body. Researchers must sensitize themselves to historical and geographical variations of ageism, should focus on the contested nature of the aged body and associated identities, and must reject attempts at universalizing scholarship. (RJM)

Contends that no issue has captured more forcefully the attention of the public than the increasing presence of weapons on school campuses. Discusses prevention and intervention strategies that show promise in stemming this national crisis. Includes a chart with both long- and short-term strategies for teachers and administrators. (CFR)

Daniel Patrick Moynihan looks back on the Moynihan Report of 30 years ago and describes the transformation of American society it heralded. As the number of nonmarital births rises among persons of all races, a change from social organization derived from the family is increasingly apparent. (SLD)

Argues that to understand today's homeless crisis one must examine the policy decisions that brought it about. The paper explores that policy history, explains how it resulted in the series of dramatic demographic changes that have changed the nature of homelessness today, and suggests a comprehensive approach to lifting families out of…

A narration of teaching experiences in an inner-city school in California is the basis for a proposed democratic educational platform that suggests ways to move beyond the despair and frustration of inner-city teaching without losing sight of the painful realities. Implications for teacher education are discussed. (SLD)

Reviews controversies over intelligence and intelligence testing, focusing on impacts on Canadian society in the past century. Discusses eugenics movements and related immigration policies. Suggests that both "tails" of "The Bell Curve" (cognitive elite and underclass) are influenced by inaccurate methods, and that the middle…

Calls for careful but unemotional criticism of "The Bell Curve." Notes that: three chapters that deal with the IQ-race relationship have received most critical attention; genetically based racial categories do not exist; disadvantaged minority-group students have achieved success in Catholic schools with high expectations of students;…

Examines the differences between Gordon Allport's and W. E. B. DuBois's theories on the origins of prejudice and the impact of discrimination on the personality and social development of blacks. The article argues that prejudice is a historically developed process, not a universal feature of human psychology. Implications for U.S. race relations…

The national-service movement needs to grapple with two weaknesses. One is the underrepresentation of people of color and of young people of low socioeconomic status. The other is a failure to develop strategies that seek to solve problems caused by persistent poverty; current strategies tend to address only immediate needs. (SLD)

Discusses approaches by the organization URGENS in helping persons who have dropped out of society. Topics include employment seeking, social workers, experimental activities, imagination, development of creativity and communication, and the need for self-expression and self-observation. (AEF)

Analysis of 101 cases of child sexual abuse in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) found overrepresentation of the Indian ethnic group and a mean age of children involved of 6 to 8 years. Associated psychosocial factors included the absence of a protective adult at home, unemployment, and history of perpetrator drug abuse. (DB)

Uses the book, "The Bell Curve," to illustrate the problem of "dangerous knowledge" and its power to harm. The article examines what the book is saying about intelligence, its meaning to society, and the book's possible effect on radicalizing political thought. (GR)

Criticizes California's Proposition 187 and the assertions underlying it, and discusses the implications of this legislation on future society. The article concludes with an outline of the legal hurdles Proposition 187 is facing and the potential consequences of this legislation for California. (GR)