When producing school plays, teachers can prepare students for the tryouts to avoid student frustration over the reality that everyone cannot play the lead. Suggestions include talking before the tryouts, meeting with those who are trying out, inviting students to participate in the crew, getting parents involved, being honest, and double casting…

Reviews the literature describing those individuals involved in clergy sexual misconduct in the Christian church, of which the reported incidence is rising. Includes characteristics of clergy, mostly men, who perpetrate such abuse and of the victims, mostly women. Describes what two churches have done when faced with clergy who have committed…

An article by Seligson contended that the current intrafamilial child sexual abuse treatments are driven by legal concerns rather than the needs and complex feelings of the child. A survey of therapists (n=41) at an urban outpatient clinic do not support any of Seligson's major contentions, as a majority of therapists ranked legal matters as their…

Examined parental alcoholism and help-seeking behavior in college students classified as children of alcoholics (COAs, n=83), Help-seeking COAs (n=51), Controls (n=86), and Help-seeking Controls (n=90). Findings revealed that help-seeking appeared to be the more significant variable for discriminating differences in emotional needs of college…

Evaluation of the Worker Loneliness Questionnaire, with 51 persons with mild, moderate, and severe mental retardation found the measure to be a reliable instrument with this population. Results showed some individuals were lonely; however, this was not a pervasive feeling. (Author/DB)

Because of changes in the family and other institutions, schools must fill the void created by students' lack of affective development before genuine learning can occur. This article provides guidelines for developing and implementing an advisory program for middle school students that successfully combines the elementary school's child-centered…

Examines research on psychological and social aspects of gifted education, highlighting: students' psychological and social needs, school-based issues common to gifted students, and social coping strategies gifted students employ at school. An information management model is discussed for anticipating and understanding gifted students'…

Reviews issues related to school social workers' skepticism toward mentoring and the current mentoring movement. Discusses theoretical cornerstones of mentoring programs as well as principles of effective programs. Argues that school social workers are ideal candidates for developing, implementing, and evaluating those programs. (Author/GCP)

This paper reviews the literature on empowerment as a psychological construct and as an outcome of disability service provision. Key components of empowerment are identified, such as self-efficacy, sense of control, and participation/collaboration. Models of empowerment and allied constructs, including locus of control and power/powerlessness, are…

Children's challenging behavior is a way of getting their needs met. Understanding that function can help camp staff to deal effectively with challenging behavior. The physical or social environment can be manipulated to promote desired behaviors, but transgressions require positive, educational, and realistic responses. Helping campers meet their…

The dynamics of self-worth, confidence, and acceptance are much more complicated than portrayed in the simple self-esteem models promoted by today's educators. Because self-esteem is both a product and a motivating force, we can't simply label it as an instructional objective or value to be inculcated in children, independent of their performance.…

Crisis events may be viewed as expected, sudden, or catastrophic. Survivors have common needs: recognition of loss, soothing of fear, a sense of what happened, expression of feelings, assistance with adjustment, shared closure rituals, and ways to remember. Schools' crisis-response plans should include intervention and postintervention activities…

Makes suggestions to help leaders of adventure and experiential learning activities deal with participants' emotions and issues of emotional safety and risk: acknowledge the situation, be clear about what is being done, monitor individuals' actions in the group, make sure the activity is physically safe, and be aware of participants' conscious and…

Discusses the use of various art and play activities to help facilitate healing in immigrant refugee children who have experienced trauma and grief. Describes the work of the Center for Grieving Children and pilot projects with refugee and immigrant children that involved self-healing through puppetry, cultural and ethnic diversity in art, and…

Defines emotional intelligence. Considers why and how music can be a very useful educational medium for middle school children. Describes some musical activities used for emotional learning programs. (SR)