During his quest for leadership of the English Conservative Party, David Cameron declared his intention to turn Britain into a Big Society. In May 2010, having gained office as Prime Minister, he unveiled a string of policies to bring his vision to fruition. After five years, however, talk of the Big Society has withered in public debate such that…

The impacts of poverty in this country cast a long shadow over the issues of education, social mobility, and global competitiveness. Although national conversations regarding income inequality have increased, the topic of poverty in America has not had as much attention. We seem to be at a loss about specific solutions that could address this…

The UK's coalition government wants to build a "Big Society." The Prime Minister says "we are all in this together" and building it is the responsibility of every citizen as well as every government department. The broad vision is welcome, but everything depends on how the vision is translated into policy and practice. The…

This article examines shifts in educational and social governance taking place in Queensland, Australia, through Education Queensland's Industry School Engagement Strategy and Gateway Schools program. This significant educational initiative is set within the context of Queensland's social investment agenda first articulated in its education policy…

Ethnographic research in 17 low-income schools in the northeast of England is brought to bear on the relationship between the policies of community regeneration and practices of community responsive school leadership. Over 100 interviews and site visits with head teachers, politicians, teachers, community service providers, government officials,…

This memorial lecture offers a synoptic overview of the history of childhood and a selective discussion of the current state of children's rights in Australia. Attention is drawn to now generally recognized rights of children and to specific legislation or policy in Australia relative to each of those rights. Specific recommendations, thought to…

Alleviation of economic hardship and poverty in an affluent country requires a more active government role and increased attention to proposals such as the negative income tax. (Author/KM)

Describes community based, voluntary neighborhood revitalization projects in New York and Philadelphia. Discusses the effects of Reagan Administration cutbacks and seeming indifference to such projects which appears to be contradictory to the Republican party platform of 1980 pledging aid for self-helping and cooperative community efforts to…

The former United States Attorney General articulated her vision of how our communities can act in creative ways to choose prevention instead of prisons for our troubled children and youth at the Spirit of Crazy Horse Award Ceremony held July 1, 2001, in Custer, South Dakota. (Author)

This collection of four articles focuses on the needs of and services for young adolescents in the after-school hours. In "Young Adolescents and Their Communities: A Shared Responsibility," William Kerewsky and Leah M. Lefstein discuss the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of young adolescents. Elliot A. Medrich,…

State strategies used to build constituencies and expand the resource base of the child care systems they are developing will be an important contribution to the success of welfare reform. This report, from a 1996 Child Care Action Campaign national audioconference, describes the innovative strategies used to strengthen leadership, expand…

Philosophies and themes of the revitalization movement in which President Carter's national urban policy was developed are reviewed. It is held that the new policy does not adequately address the needs of those who suffer the most from urban decay. (GC)

The bases for these policy guidelines are traced to an extensive yet largely unimplemented literature, but primarily to the principles of nonviolent conflict resolution, community responsibility, self actualization and social actualization through the implementation of universally recognized human rights. Central emphasis is given to the need for…

Reports results of survey responses to short scenarios involving partner disputes. If there was no intention of harm and no current injury, dismissal was preferred. Women and men preferred counseling to jail or probation; women preferred jail and counseling more than men. Court-ordered mediation was the most preferred disposition. (LKS)

Reports results of a community survey, conducted to investigate the option of addressing drunk driving as a public health issue rooted in social institutions, that found that the public endorsed reducing drunk driving through legal deterrence and rehabilitation, but was also willing to support several socially based interventions. (LKS)