Teaching boys: towards a theory of gender-relevant pedagogy

This article calls attention to the social and educational challenges facing boys and men around the world. Next, it highlights how the outcomes for males of African descent across the Americas, in particular the USA, are especially troubling. Moreover, a critique is presented about the recruitment campaigns that see increasing the number of Black male teachers as an elixir for improving the crisis facing Black boys. Then, the article focuses on the intersection of race and gender and reframes the discussion around improving the deleterious school outcomes facing Black boys by shifting the conversation to exploring how educators' socialised views around gender influence the ways in which they teach boys. Finally, the article provides practical applications for designing a curriculum that is gender relevant.     

Assessing the Impact of a Business Communication Simulation on Students' Self-Perceptions

This article examines whether participation in a business communication simulation significantly influences students' perceptions of their business communication behaviors. Results revealed several significant differences between students' pre- and post scores. Students reported significantly higher post scores in 4 of 5 of the examined categories, including message construction, message delivery, critical analysis, and collaboration. These findings suggest that participation in the simulation positively impacts students' estimations of their business communication competencies. Possible explanations and implications behind these findings are discussed. Future research directions are proposed.     

PRESENTATION OF THE ELDERLY IN THE SUNDAY NEWS

To determine the amount of newsspace devoted to articles about aging and the elderly 254 Sunday issues of 22 daily newspapers in 3 circulation groups published in 1983 were examined. A content analysis of the age‐related articles was also done. A total average of .87% of the news‐space was allocated to aging. This figure varied only slightly with circulation size, the ratio of elderly residents in the areas, or with the independence or affiliation of the newspapers. There were, however, differences among individual papers in space allocation. More articles were event—rather than issue—oriented. Metropolitan papers published significantly more issue articles than did papers in the lower circulation groups. Metropolitan papers significantly more often depicted the elderly in active rather than passive roles, whereas the opposite was true for papers in the lowest circulation group. Males were predominantly the subjects of articles in all papers. Recommendations for further study and implications for educational gerontologists are discussed.     

Mixed Messages: The Problem of Class in Mary Norton’s <Emphasis Type="Italic">Borrowers</Emphasis> Series

Scholars have posited various theories as to which sector of society Mary Norton’s Borrowers most closely reflect, from exploitative aristocrats to helpless victims. Through social and literary contextualization, this article highlights the ways in which Norton represents social class in the series and explores the competing ideologies embedded in the texts. Madelyn Travis is Website Features Editor for Booktrust and Associate Editor of The Journal of Children’s Literature Studies. She has contributed to The Horn Book magazine and The Ultimate First Book Guide. She has an MA in children’s literature from Roehampton University and will shortly embark on a PhD at Newcastle University.     

BOOK REVIEWS

The courts traditionally have supported the belief that the public college campus is a public forum for the open exchange of ideas. Therefore, public colleges and universities should not be subject to the preferences of groups that would seek to limit expression they may find objectionable. Yet, the continuing challenges to constitutionally protected free speech on college campuses suggest that some institutions could be persuaded to exercise illegal censorship. If administrators and faculty are to protect the foundation of the public forum in higher education and avoid potential litigation, they would be wise to exercise caution when censorship is a possibility. On the public campus, students, faculty, and administrators have the right to speak and to hear a wide range of opinions, even those that may be unpopular. Institutions may only determine the time, place, and manner of these expressions. An earlier version of this article was presented at the Fourth Annual Texas Higher Education Law Conference at the University of North Texas in Denton.     

Not Babysitting: Work Stress and Well-Being for Family Child Care Providers

Family child care providers contend with a number of work stressors related to the dual roles of operating a small business and providing child care in their home. Research has documented many sources of work related stress for family child care providers; however, research examining family child care providers’ experiences outside of the lens of quality of care and child outcomes is dated and scant. This study consisted of three focus groups of 11 family child care providers who shared their perspectives on work related stressors and well-being. Many of the study findings were congruent with previous research in the field; however, a key finding in this study was the importance of family child care providers to assert and establish a professional identity to mitigate work related stress. Recommendations and strategies to assist family child providers in constructing a professional identity are discussed.