This article attempts to enter the world of orphaned children by describing how their daily activities are organized in a social rehabilitation center for minor children, called Center N in this article. The article was based on materials of a study that resulted from participant observation between 1995 and 2002, reflecting a few aspects of the…

In this chapter, critical race and expectancy violation theories are used to deconstruct students' resistance to a female faculty member of color, a Muslim Arab American who wears the traditional Islamic cover. The author provides a narrative of her teaching experience and some techniques she has used to face such resistance.

The claims for the huge numbers of students suffering from the "latest scams" in literacy education--learning disability, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, at risk, and hypoglycemia--are driven by political, economic, and social profits with minimal concern for children. While such problems exist, the phrases used to describe these…

Educators should be aware that recent rhetoric about diversity in this country often does not consider the continuing discrimination and mistreatment of Asians. Simply put, the employment situation for Asian and Pacific Americans is characterized by underemployment and the channeling of Asians into a narrow range of jobs. Many people today have…

Psychological masks can become the accepted facade of people who struggle to camouflage their real selves. Sometimes parents label a child as "lazy" or "stupid"; teachers may follow suit by labeling a child "slow learner" or "uncooperative." Healthy self-esteem is based on three main concepts: "I am…

After nearly a century of expecting schools to develop the basic literacy abilities of most students, but expecting advanced literacy to be learned only by some, American schools today have been challenged, or expected, to develop advanced literacy in virtually all students. But for schools to accomplish such adaptations, several confusions about…

Although social gerontologists recognize the heterogeneous nature of elderly populations, they have relied on the use of aggregate data and chronological age rather than sociological variables in their research. The notion of stigma, as developed by Goffman (1963), applied to the elderly focuses on social relationships rather than individual…

This review of the literature discusses the image of librarians in popular culture, the importance of projecting a clear and positive image of reference librarians and their work to encourage users to seek reference help, and ways to improve users' understanding and image of librarians. (25 references) (Author/CLB)

Problems in current special education categorical research practices are discussed in terms of consistency and reliability, student heterogeneity, and lack of distinct categorical groups. Suggested changes include characteristic-oriented categorization, corresponding changes in dissemination of research findings, and greater specificity and…

The importance of personal experiences of a researcher that are "outside" of the research domain in dealing with the researcher's object of study is explored. It is equally true that research questions can also affect how one understands or experiences topical issues in a later personal experience. The researcher's personal experience…

Perspectives concerning William Rhodes' philosophy and his 1975 predictions about the mental health system are offered. Rhodes characterized the traditional mental health system as one that suppresses individuality in the interests of social control. On the other hand, in innovative progressional institutions, power is shared by providers with…

The meaning of the label "mentally retarded" is discussed with two adults who have been labeled mentally retarded and have spent a significant portion of their lives in residential facilities, and their stories are contrasted with R. Edgerton's classic study, "The Cloak of Competence." (PHR)

Traditional beliefs, values, and attitudes are being restructured by society, which deeply affects the role of the female adolescent. This article discusses these effects on the experience of the contemporary White American middle class female older adolescent (16-20 years old) in relation to the changing role of women. (Author/KC)

Diagnostic procedures aimed at labeling, selection, and placement in special schools for children designated in Germany as learning handicapped are compared with support and intervention-oriented strategies. Construction and administration of alternative diagnostic instruments and approaches such as inventories and surveys are examined.…

A former juvenile and family court judge reflects on experiences with juvenile issues, calling for critical changes in juvenile case handling. Advocates many changes for juvenile and family courts of the future, such as a new type of due process for children and the abolishment of labels such as "delinquent," runaway," or…