Relational Pedagogy for Teaching the History of American Religion in Collegiate Classrooms

There is something odd about teaching religious history in collegiate classrooms. Most academic historians agree that religion is central to the history of any society, yet discussions of religious history or even religious culture are strikingly peripheral to historical narratives taught in college classrooms. Instructors frequently sidestep religion, deeming it too personal and divisive for an objective, scientific study so frequently associated with the academic field of history. I argue that a more deliberate approach, one of relational pedagogy, overcomes these obstacles while recognizing the legitimacy of such concerns. This approach serves students well and can cover a breadth of American religious history in a manner that is academically rigorous, analytically driven, and student informed. It allows students to gain new perspectives on religion and religious culture without requiring them to defend a personal religious affiliation or any lack thereof while drawing attention both to content knowledge and to the study of history itself, tasks central to any task of any college history professor

Instructional Decisions of Elementary Principals for Implementing Dual Language Programs for Emergent Bilinguals

This study explores the instructional decisions made by elementary principals in implementing dual language programs, with a focus on the choice of language for state reading assessments. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research examines the lived experiences of eight principals in a South Texas school district, offering insights into the challenges of maintaining program fidelity while meeting state accountability demands. Key findings highlight the tensions principals face in balancing the integrity of the dual language model with the pressures of standardized testing. The study underscores the need for flexible district policies and enhanced leadership training, advocating for a leadership approach rooted in transformative and social justice principles to better support the academic success of Emergent Bilingual students. This research contributes to the broader understanding of the complexities involved in dual language program implementation and offers recommendations for educational leaders and policymakers

The Ethics of AI in Wealth Management

This paper examines the ethical implications of AI in wealth management by analyzing regulations from international and national securities bodies and evaluating how firms implement AI responsibly. While current regulations are not perfect, they generally promote ethical AI use, and firms are actively working to reduce biases and enhance data security

Does demographics and affiliation impact experience and attendance of SFA athletic events?

Research Objectives l. Evaluate demographic variables 2. Examine role of social dynamics 3. Identify barriers that could affect experience at SFA athletic events 4.Determine factors that increase attendance and experience 5. Assess the effectiveness of SFA athletics communicatio

The Efficacy of an In-Vivo Chaining Procedure Compared to POV-VM Chaining Procedure to Teach a Task to Children with Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which includes symptoms such as repetitive or restricted patterns of behavior, and deficits in social communication (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and affects approximately 1 in 36 children aged 8 and older (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Children with this disorder face unique challenges when it come to learning academic and social skills (Gardner & Wolfe, 2013). Chaining is an effective intervention for teaching individuals with disabilities a variety of skills (Cuvo et al., 1978; Horner & Keilitz, 1975; Shrestha et al., 2013; Tarbox, et al., 2009). Video modeling, where a subject performs a behavior they have previously seen modeled on a videotape (Nikopoulos & Keenan, 2004 and more recently point-of-view video modeling (POV-VM) which provides the instruction from the subject\u27s vantage point may also be effective for teaching children with autism and other disabilities needed skills (Shukla-Mehta et al., 2010). There is some empirical evidence that chaining used in conjunction with POV-VM may provide effective intervention (Jewett, et al., 2012; Moore, et al., 2013; Shrestha, et al., 2013) yet no studies have directly compared a chaining procedure taught by traditional methods to a chaining procedure which is exclusively taught through the use of POV-VM

Mermaid in the Bathtub: A Speculative Southern Female Gothic Novel

Mermaid in the Bathtub is a Southern female gothic novel set in 1931 rural East Texas. Minnie is a seventeen-year-old woman, married off so her father can find work during the deepening depression and failure of their cotton crop. She is betrothed to Thomas, the Pastor’s son, and doesn’t quite understand her new role as wife and homemaker. Over the course of the novel, Minnie endures abuse at the hands of the Pastor, who punishes her for disrespecting his church and authority. Minnie begins working with other women at the local dry cleaners, but when tragedy strikes and she miscarries her first child, she returns home and begins to spiral, obsessing over the mystery of her mother’s death while dreaming of a life without the Pastor

BACTERIAL BIOFILM FORMATION AS A TOOL TO ASSESS CHEMICALLY TREATED WASTEWATER QUALITY IN DEEP EAST TEXAS

The effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) relies on a sequence of primary, secondary, tertiary, and advanced treatment stages to remove contaminants. However, despite these processes, microbes can still thrive in treated water from WWTP, posing a significant threat to water quality and public health. This study investigates the suitability of treated water released from the tertiary stage in Nacogdoches, San Augustine and San Jacinto WWTPs into the environment by using bacterial biofilm formation. Bacillus thuringiensis viable cells at an optical density of 0.03 were used as a model organism, and Nacogdoches city tap water served as a reference for comparison. Microscopy studies confirmed the aggregation of bacterial cells and vertical biofilm architecture. Elemental analysis via SEM/EDS identified key elements such as C, N, O, P, Br, Na, S, and Cl supporting biofilm growth. Ion chromatography analysis revealed Cl⁻ excretion role in biofilm formation, F⁻, Br⁻, and PO₄³⁻ showed no influence, while SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ significantly contributed to ECM development. Nacogdoches Cl₂ contact chamber samples exhibited the highest biofilm growth (9.2 µm height and 0.95 µm thickness), while San Jacinto samples showed the lowest (1.1 µm height and 0.59 µm thickness); Nacogdoches final treatment (SO2 contact chamber) and tap water showed similar biofilm characteristics. Antimicrobial potential of 0.3% methanolic extracts of mint and basil were explored to reduce biofilm formation. This study advocates for biofilm assay as an effective tool for evaluating the environmental safety of discharged water from WWTPs

Book Review: Magic in the Air: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Soul of the Slam Dunk

Book review of Mike Sielski\u27s (2025) Magic in the Air: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Soul of the Slam Dunk