But Is It Poetry?

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the number of poets whose works were intended solely for children was relatively small. At the century's end, poetry and verse for children is a burgeoning field, the roster of children's poets long and growing. Some critics find little merit in the genre, preferring that children be introduced instead to the works of acknowledged “great” poets. This essay explores, among related ideas, such questions as these: In today's abundance of children's verse, is there genuine poetry? What do critics and poets consider to be genuine poetry? Where do the children themselves stand on the subject of poetry?     

Changes in Myocardial Mass Associated with Age and Stress: Reexamination of Ventricular Hypertrophy

Abstract

Hearts from 126 male Sprague-Dawley rats (two age groups) were studied to determine effects of age, chronic hypoxia, and exercise on ventricular weight. Exercised rats had significantly heavier absolute total ventricular weights (right plus left) compared with chronically hypoxic or control rats. Whether expressed as absolute or percent total ventricular weight, chronically hypoxic rats had significantly larger right ventricles but significantly smaller left ventricles than exercised or control rats. Expressed as absolute weight, older rats (11 months) had significantly larger right or left ventricles than young rats (3 months). Expressed as percent total ventricular weight, young rats had left ventricles 4% smaller, but right ventricles 4% larger than older rats (p <.05). Type of work overload (volume or pressure) and functional location of workload (pulmonary or systemic) were suggested physiological mechanisms for stress- and age-related changes in myocardial mass.     

Conceptualisations of disability and inclusion: perspectives of educators of young children

This grounded theory study explores beliefs about disability and inclusion from the perspectives of educators of young children in their respective roles as elementary school teachers and early childhood educators, in Ontario, Canada. The social relational model described by Reindal is used as a theoretical framework for interviews with four educators. The interview data provide a theory of educators' beliefs and show the relationship of the beliefs to their practice. Implications based on the theory are presented for both policy and professional development.     

Teaching Master's and Doctoral Social Work Students to Systematically Evaluate Evidence-Based Interventions

Evidence-based research relevant to social work practice has grown dramatically. This article describes a method that was implemented to teach master's and doctoral social work students how to synthesize and evaluate evidence-based interventions for social work–related problems and populations. The method includes eight steps: conceptualize the problem and define the research question(s); conduct a systematic search; define study inclusion and exclusion criteria; identify and categorize types of interventions and outcomes; rate the studies' methodological rigor; determine outcome attainment; combine outcome attainment and study rigor, and compare the evidence across studies. Two examples are presented of the implementation of this approach along with a discussion of the challenges and limitations.     

Low-income African and Latina immigrant mothers’ selection of early childhood care and education (ECCE): Considering the complexity of cultural and structural influences

Grounded in ecocultural theory and utilizing in-depth interview data, this paper explores the experiences of 40 low-income immigrant mothers as they selected and secured early childhood care and education (ECCE) for their young children. Cultural and structural aspects of low-income immigrant families’ lives and their influence in shaping these families’ ECCE decision-making processes were examined. Latina and African mothers’ experiences were considered, as these mothers’ country of origin (COO) experiences were varied as well as their documentation statuses upon arrival in the US, with 15 of the Latinas being undocumented. Mothers discussed reasons for seeking ECCE, with maternal employment being most important. Some mothers looked to ECCE to recreate social experiences for their children similar to those in their COOs. Many mothers indicated looking for ECCE programs in which their children could learn English and interact with children from diverse backgrounds. Mothers tended to utilize social and organizational connections to secure ECCE and documentation of residence shaped the number and severity of obstacles mothers faced in securing ECCE. The findings from this study inform researchers, policymakers, and practitioners as to how both culture and structure shape ECCE decision making among low-income African and Latina/o immigrant families.