"Culture" needs no sharpening. It works well as a global term, designating the many diverse material and ideational phenomena that social scientists traditionally perceive as culture. Pleas and attempts to define culture anew, however well-meaning and creative, are irrelevant to the conduct of cross-cultural research. (Author)

In light of U.S. health care reform, notes that myths and exaggerations abound about health care in the United States and Canada. Briefly examines assertions and facts about financing, waiting, rationing, government intrusiveness, physicians and consumer satisfaction, technology, choice, and quality as they relate to both systems. (NB)

Responds to discussion (Fries, 1984) of an earlier article (Myers and Manton, 1984) presenting empirical evidence on changes in the distribution of ages at death. Further analysis of the data is presented, including life expectancy changes from 1950-1978 and comparison of data for men and women from several countries. (JAC)

Attempts to lay the foundation for the process of strategic planning by the leadership of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD). Recommends it is time for the leadership of AMCD to examine the structure and direction of the association, claiming there are internal and external challenges which should be considered in…

Presents the fundamentals of Levinson's theory of adult development, which posits age-specific periods that are claimed to be universal. Examines the claim in relation to studies of women's and cross-cultural adult development. Recommends ways that adult development theory should affect the practice of adult education. (Author/JOW)

Presents brainstorming dialogue with Carl Rogers which was held in January of 1987, shortly before Rogers's death. Explores basic challenges involved in a large-scale, cross-cultural application of person-centered group work in South Africa. (Author)

Offers examples to show that most existing forms of economic analysis are applicable to Chinese economics. Argues that, before new economic tools are developed for China, one should understand the usefulness as well as the limitations of the existing tools. (BSR)

Comments on the cross-cultural research reported in the two preceding articles on comparisons of a German and American school and Dutch and Israeli teachers. Considers the emphasis on anthropology by the term "educational anthropology." Argues that an educational perspective ought to be valued as well. (LHW)

There are disparities in definitions and assessment of competence in the United Kingdom and United States. Each perception is incomplete and fails to address the dynamic environment and contexts of management performance. An alternative approach integrates elements of both, emphasizing issues central to achieving enhanced performance. (Contains 36…

In this paper, the author attempts to sketch out both an argument for and the outlines of what might be termed an African cultural studies of education. This formation would actually be composed of several fields and discourses that are often taken up as quite distinct, namely critical approaches to education, cultural studies, and African…

The field of ethnography is expected to provide reliable, accurate information regarding some aspect of an unfamiliar culture. However, this contribtuion is only useful if the results are presented along with a description and critical evaluation of the context in which the data was obtained. An example of failure to do this is found in an…

Too often seen through the lens of the United States experience in the Vietnam War, this article offers an alternative approach to teaching Vietnam through the development of a cultural and historical perspective. Provides a brief summary of literature on Vietnamese cultural history which is appropriate to high school students. (JDH)

Art reveals to us the face of man and the places where that face resides. How different cultures use the senses of place and environment, both natural and man-made, is considered. (IS)

Discusses the content and problems of contemporary social studies curricula. Recommends five guidelines for future social education, including teaching democratic culture, developing students' sense of community, studying the sociology of knowledge, analyzing social problems, and emphasizing global and future orientations. Suggests 12 steps to…

In view of the call by reformers and critics for a new definition of education itself, the author investigates some of the difficulties in formulating such a definition by utilizing the study of language as well as linguistics, semantics, and etymology. (Author/SJL)