Multiculturalism is vital in a society constructed on coalitions whose members seek common ground. The educational system must be the forum for providing the opportunity to value diversity. Selected reviews are presented of six books on multicultural education and society. (SLD)

Discusses the tendency in the United States to blame either Japanese business or the educational system for the economic woes of the United States. Argues that, instead of choosing scapegoats, the United States should focus on solving social problems. Suggest that social studies teachers work to help students overcome prejudice toward the…

Defines literacy needs of immigrants in Canada, using personal stories to illustrate the destructive effect literacy problems have on people perceived to lack literacy skills. Questions are raised about implications for Canadian society as a whole and about the effectiveness of its English-as-a-Second-Language programs. (LB)

Presents debates between young people in China's special economic zones and three educators who find that these areas create their own unique problems for China. Cautions that this group comes in contact with conflicting ideas, values, and beliefs. Warns private interests may create an unequal standard of living with the rest of China. (NL)

Reviews three special interest publications: (1) "Learning Readiness: Promising Strategies," a directory of model programs addressing social problems that impede learning; (2) "Standards for Quality School-Age Child Care," about quality standards for before- and after-school child care programs; and (3) "Hostile Hallways: The AAUW Survey on Sexual…

Argues that the judgment that the academy is racist is frequently misunderstood by white academicians because the socially learned investment in individualism eclipses awareness of racial positionality. Suggestions are given on how white academicians could address white racism. (SLD)

Responds to an article by Christine E. Sleeter (1993) and another by W.B. Allen (1993). Refutes criticisms that the author actually promotes racism in his call for increased white discourse on white racism and denies the individuality of races other than whites. However, personal individuality does not cancel the effects of inequality of power,…

Outlines a general theory of childhood victimology, with a typology that characterizes abuse as extraordinary, acute, or pandemic. Efforts to prevent childhood victimization must recognize its differential character and the importance of the child's stage of development in recognizing and dealing with victimization. (SLD)

To combat negative effects of the AIDS epidemic, violence, and adolescent sexual behavior, schools must broaden their curricula to include character and values education. Schools can actively help youngsters by providing an integrated curriculum that encourages decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution; a teaching staff dedicated…

Argues that special needs education in Britain has lost sight of the relationship between children's difficulties in school and wider patterns of socioeconomic disadvantage and inequality, and suggests that special needs education is incapable of addressing basic inequities in our education system and within society as a whole. (Author/CR)

Presents a series of questions designed to provoke students to think about their location in the world, the effect of global connections on their local culture, and current global problems and their implications. Includes Internet contact information for some United Nations agencies that provide information useful to students. (DSK)

Explores some of the conflicts in Jewish religious culture related to choosing literature to enhance or reflect literacy and to ensure continuity. Outlines questions that have stimulated postmodern skepticism about the stability of canons, and offers guidelines for selecting new materials into the canon and, hence, curriculum. (DSK)

Reveals how the author's interpretation of the development of reformatories for girls underwent a revisionist transformation during her work with an alternative school for delinquent girls, which challenged her interpretation of the impact of reformatory life. Explores questions of positionality, i.e., gender inequality and African-American and…

Reports on an experience using a teaching technique designed to promote active learning in an undergraduate social-problems course through student analysis of real social data. Discusses course materials and teaching procedures used, advantages and disadvantages of the approach, and student reactions. (DSK)

The University of New Mexico's Institute for Social Research operates eight centers that conduct policy-related research on criminal justice, criminology, delinquency, and social problems. Projects have focused on inequities in criminal sentencing in New Mexico, juveniles' access to and use of guns, New Mexico's need for a juvenile prison, and the…