Thirteen essays describing current research in sociology are included in this publication. The essays fall into ten categories: individual and society, differentiation and stratification, institutions, political and economic sociology, social processes, policy, historical sociology, and sociology of world regions. Titles include: The Self-Concept;…

Examines data on the etiology of health-compromising behavior. Proposes a four-part model of adolescent problem behavior and a seven-part model for school-based intervention programs. Reviews and compares four successful innovative programs. Discusses implications of the model program for educational practice. (BC)

Discusses Black on Black crime and provides evidence that it is directly linked to American societal problems. Covers the following historical and societal influences: (1) the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow; (2) Black migration and disorder in cities; (3) the use of alcohol and drugs; and (4) policing of the Black ghetto. (JS)

Discusses failure of education programs to affect spread of AIDS by intravenous drug users in inner cities. Suggests following policy responses: confidential, identity-linked reporting of HIV test results; programs to alert the sexual partners of HIV-positive persons; elimination of barriers to HIV testing; routine offering of HIV testing; and…

Explains the incidence and nature of drug trafficking and chemical dependency among adolescent black males. The paper also discusses the social science theories of Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Molefi Asante to better understand the behaviors, and the consequences of those behaviors, of young black males who participate in drug trafficking. (GR)

Presents a brief overview of the current disintegration of Russian society. Maintains that the decline in social services and the education system, in particular, threatens the well-being of Russian children. Currently Russia's educational system is failing to provide for its students' needs. (MJP)

Courageous, caring teachers in a supportive school can help restore the fractured social bonds of many adolescents. Traditional schools can be very unfriendly to adult-wary youths. The article discusses how to reclaim rebellious, alienated teens and build middle schools that are responsive to the unique needs of young adolescents. (SM)

The role of British Columbia's rehabilitation programs for socially maladjusted and disturbed youth is described, and attention is directed to provincial policies, factors related to successful outcomes, and program evaluation needs and results. (SEW)

High teacher attrition in rural Alaska is abetted by stress induced by the culturally and environmentally differing milieus of the arctic and sub-arctic. Severe climatic conditions curtail traditional activities, and confined isolated settings place strain on personal relationships and heighten irritability, anxiety, and anger, often leading to…

Describes a difficult sixth grade girl who spent her elementary school years fighting to feel happy. The article focuses on a teacher's efforts to raise the child's self-esteem by examining her home life then taking appropriate steps to encourage success (e.g., tutoring younger students). (SM)

Argues that everyday school violence, as distinct from isolated sensational incidents, is caused at least in part by the educational policies and procedures governing schools and by the way these policies are implemented. Trends affecting school disorders, including erosion of teacher authority, are discussed, and some solutions are proposed. (SLD)

This commentary explores the role, psychological significance, and potential value of a restraining order that is used to extricate students from highly enmeshed and destructive relationships. The commentary places strong emphasis upon the need to evaluate an unmanageable student's behavior in the context of the college's code of student conduct…

This book explores factors that contribute to antisocial behavior among students and reviews the literature on preventing and responding to antisocial behavior. Chapter 1, "A Culture of Violence," links the widespread perception that school violence is increasing to a broader culture of violence. Schools are increasingly turning to…

In this article, the authors respond to Dr. Amada's comment on their paper. They feel that several of his points, though related to their topic, go beyond the scope of their paper, for example, reflecting on the potential for legal involvement when the intensity of the obsessive relationship warrants urgent intervention. In the latter case the…

Maintains that the Holocaust was the catalyst for Canadian antihate legislation. Maintains that, to combat racism and bigotry, it is necessary to use three important tools: (1) the law; (2) community action; and (3) education. Describes some contemporary realities and remedies in the struggle against racism and hate in Canada. (CFR)