Specific student attitude problems in compulsory language courses are described and solutions to them are presented, including first-day pep talks, teacher approval and positive attitudes, use of interesting topics, props, provision for student creativity, skillful use of questioning, and use of novelty. (MSE)

A parent from Montgomery County (Maryland) explains why she enrolled her children in private schools despite her previous support for public education. Her reasons include budget cuts, racial quotas, and concern about educational quality, school discipline, and drugs. (PP)

Defines one aspect of liberation theology as emphasizing its own particular social experiences to question universal claims of theology and to unmask oppressive particularities of those universal claims. Argues that religious educators can answer the culture of disbelief with calls for greater tolerance and understanding of diverse belief systems.…

Examines how negative views of government and the public sector are affecting educational governance. Reviews social and political trends undermining support for public schools. Presents a new definition of governance that realistically portrays the politics of educational leadership by acknowledging the roles of public and private sectors,…

Points out that every four months the number of reported AIDS cases among adolescents doubles. Describes and evaluates a comprehensive AIDS prevention education program for preteens. Identifies adolescent attitudes as barriers to effective AIDS education. Presents strategies to break down barriers and promote acceptance of AIDS education,…

A three-year study explored the development of elementary teacher trainees' attitudes toward the teaching and learning of science during the early stages of their professional education. Questionnaires and reflective writing revealed attitude development and the impact of coursework and teaching practice. A dichotomy between expectation and…

A four-year study found that, between internships and the end of residencies at the Oregon Health Sciences University, physicians' attitudes about their careers and residency experiences improved significantly, suggesting that, although internships may be dysphoric, normalization of emotional states and attitudes occurs during residency.…

Examines moral exclusion from the perspective of prejudice and stereotyping. Analyzes the causes and consequences of delegitimization. Suggests two models that describe the role of conflict in delegitimization and of ethnocentrism in delegitimization. Describes historical events that illustrate the consequences of delegitimization. (JS)

Describes field and experimental research that sought means to promote respect for lower status outgroups. Explores alternative approaches to improving justice. Reviews recent empirical work focused on the following topics: (1) reducing negative stereotypes; (2) diminishing justifications for bias; and (3) increasing intergroup attraction. (JS)

Two studies involving 125 sixth graders and 28 fifth through seventh graders examined negative social reactions from the perspective of rejecting peers. The more children perceived atypical students to be responsible for idiosyncracies, the more anger and less sympathy they reported. Implications for improving social acceptance are discussed. (SLD)

Content analysis of 56 African American high school students' descriptions of the meaning of "acting Black" revealed five underlying content dimensions: (1) academic/scholastic, (2) aesthetic/stylistic, (3) behavioral, (4) dispositional, and (5) impressionistic. With the exception of the qualities in the aesthetic/stylistic category, the…

The purpose of the present study was to measure attitudes towards sex offenders held by professionals and paraprofessionals and to evaluate an introductory training workshop aimed at increasing knowledge and improving attitudes to this client group. Eighty-five residential hostel workers and probation officers attended an intensive two-day…

To facilitate the recovery of people with mental illness (consumers of mental health services), social workers must be strengths-focused and believe in the potential for consumer growth and improvement. Unfortunately, social workers often share the negative, stigmatizing view of mental illness held by much of the general population. In this…

The effect of educational technologies on learning is an area of active interest. We conducted an experiment to compare the impact of instructional software on student performance. We hypothesize that some of the impact on student performance may reflect the influence of the technology on student subject-related beliefs and that those beliefs may…

Objective: This study was designed to examine context effects or provocation ecologies in the daily lives of children with ADHD. Method: Across 7 days, mothers and children (27 children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] taking stimulant medication; 25 children without ADHD; ages 7-12 years) provided electronic diary reports…