Reports on a study of foreign language learning in Australia's primary schools in the mid-seventies. The role of immigration in the development of second language programs is discussed, along with the extent of federal government involvement. A state-by-state analysis of language programs is also given. (PJN)

Discusses a trip to China by students of Mandarin Chinese at Prince Alfred College, Australia, in order to learn about the language and culture of the host country. Some continuing features of the stay were shopping, food, and attitudes of the local populace toward the foreigners. (Author/CK)

Reports on a study investigating the dynamic nature of ethnic identity by placing Greek-Australian adolescents under one of three experimental conditions: positive, negative (highlighting advantages or disadvantages of ethnic group membership), or neutral. Respondents in the negative condition group had significantly less positive attitudes to…

A study involving police officers in Western Australia (n=138) and Pennsylvania (n=168) revealed that officers responded differently to crimes involving persons with mental retardation. In some cases, police were more tolerant of the disability, in others they were less tolerant. Response patterns were not different for Australian and Pennsylvania…

This paper examines three periods in the history of child care: nineteenth-century creches, World War II day nurseries, and the 1970s Community Child Care movement. It argues that, in each of these periods, the services were shaped by three sets of competing interests: those of the mothers who needed or wanted to work; their children; and the…

It is widely postulated that school context characteristics and sex may influence students' motivational orientations. However, relatively little empirical evidence exists to support this postulate. Hence the present study sought to examine both the individual and interactive effects of school and sex differences on students' motivational goals.…

This discussion paper describes the characteristics and life styles of single adults in Australia. Recent changes in sociological theory concerning marriage, family life, and single life are noted in the introduction, followed by a description of historical and demographic trends. Different categories of single adults (i.e., never married,…

The decline in enrollment in foreign language study in Australia is due partly to the belief in the universality of English. Learning difficulties may be overcome by beginning language instruction in primary school. Diplomatic and military personnel may require a foreign language, as may international businessmen. (CHK)

A recent Australian controversy over the representation of a same-sex family on national children's television highlighted the fact that early childhood remains a domain of strongly defended heteronormative family privilege. The authors use this controversial event as a springboard into an analysis of the interplay between the hegemonic discourses…

The main purpose of this report is to provide guidelines for a study on educating for leisure. The authors proceed on the theory that to understand fully the leisure time activities of individuals it is necessary to take into consideration their whole life of home circumstances, work, and schooling and examine this in relation to their…

Reports on a factor-analytic enquiry into the structure of an "authoritarianism" scale for middle childhood. The scale was developed to assess the social attitudes of primary school children in Sydney, Australia. (CM)

Studied adolescents' (N=163) formal operational reasoning in relation to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, AIDS fear, sexual knowledge, and reactions to AIDS victims. Found that advanced reasoning predicted better AIDS knowledge and general sexual knowledge. Advanced reasoning and AIDS knowledge were also linked with heightened…

Reports a study that examined the relationship among classical authoritarianism, directiveness, and attitudes toward institutional authority among young adolescents in Adelaide, Australia. Concludes that the concept of classical authoritarianism has limited relevance to the social attitudes of children, and that attitude towards authority is not…

Seventeen Supreme Court Judges, District Court Judges, and Magistrates in Western Australia were surveyed to examine perceptions concerning overrepresentation of individuals with intellectual disability in the criminal justice system. The judiciary felt these individuals had several characteristics that would disadvantage them in contacts with the…

Sex and pleasure are fundamental aspects of students' lives and school cultures. They are also integral to students' sense of well-being and can determine their propensity to engage or disengage with the desire to love, learn and transform themselves. Taking the fundamental role of pleasure as its starting point, this paper discusses the idea of…