Algebra for all?

In 1957, the director of one of the major math curriculum projects in the UK was quoted in a newspaper as saying: Up went Sputnik and down came all the pure mathematicians saying we must do sets and be saved . The corresponding message from the National Math Panel Final Report is Up went the economic performance of China and India and down came all the pure mathematicians saying we must do algebra and be saved

Final comments on Eisenberg\u27s paper

I must begin by expressing appreciation for the spirit in which Ted accepted my comments as intended to be intellectually and not personally provocative. Let me also assure him that I was not at all offended by the paper – it would be more accurate to say that I was stimulated by it to voice some strong disagreements. Beyond the particular aspects on which we have different perspectives, I applaud his decision to raise ethical issues, too often ignored in writing about mathematics education

Guest Editorial: Reaction to the Final Report of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel

In 2006, President Bush appointed the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (NMAP henceforth) which issued its Final Report on March 13, 2008. The Final Report (summary), plus reports of three subcommittees and five Task Groups, together with two appendices containing the Presidential Executive Order setting up the panel, and details of the panel membership and other personnel, can be downloaded from www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/index.htm

Comments provoked by Flaws and idiosyncrasies in mathematicians: Food for the classroom?

In mathematics classes, it is appropriate for many reasons to discuss mathematicians as people with lives, personal problems, both influenced by and influencing cultural movements and societal issues. Mathematics is a human activity, and mathematicians are human. Eisenberg\u27s paper raises important and fascinating issues, such as the extent to which intellectual achievements can be kept separate from the personality and actions of their creator (such as Wagner). However, in my reactions, I suggest ways in which I believe the discussion needs to be broadened and refocused

Functional Analysis and Treatment in Early Education Classrooms

Despite repeated demonstrations of the efficacy of functional analysis (FA) to identify reinforcers responsible for the maintenance of problem behavior prior to the development of treatment, some researchers have questioned the ecological validity of FA, because the majority of studies report FAs conducted under controlled conditions that may not closely resemble settings in which problem behavior typically occurs. In the current investigation, functional analyses were conducted for young, typically developing children who displayed problem behavior (aggression or aggression and property destruction). All sessions were conducted in a classroom within the context of ongoing classroom activities. Subsequently, treatments based on the results of the FA were implemented to assess the validity of the outcomes of the functional analyses. The effect of functional analysis conditions on classroom levels of problem behavior were compared before, during, and after the assessment. Results are discussed in terms of the utility of classroom-based assessment and analysis of naturally occurring events that may compromise procedural integrity

An Evaluation of Toilet-Training Procedures

Although systematic replications of Azrin and Foxx's (1971) procedures have proven extremely effective across a variety of populations and settings, the majority of behavioral toilet- training research has relied on complex multicomponent training packages. Therefore, little is known regarding the effectiveness of individual toilet-training components. In Study 1, we investigated the combined and individual effects of three commonly used components: (a) underwear, (b) a dense schedule of sits on the toilet, and (c) differential reinforcement. When all three components were combined, we observed overall improvements in toileting performance for five of six children. We observed overall improvements for two of four children exposed to only the underwear component. Overall improvements were not observed for any child exposed to only the dense-sit schedule component or to only the differential-reinforcement component. Study 2 was designed to determine whether training components that were ineffective when used in isolation add to treatment efficacy when combined with effective training procedures. The combination of the differential-reinforcement component with the underwear component produced no overall improvements in performance beyond gains observed when underwear was used alone

An Educational Methodology and Program for the Mitigation of Compassion Fatigue for Combat Deploying Chaplains

Combat deployment presents unique challenges to military chaplains. One such challenge relates to the Vicarious Traumatization, often called Compassion Fatigue, faced by chaplains who minister to service members experiencing combat-related trauma. There is minimal literature addressing compassion-related stress for clergy, especially those working with combat trauma survivors. Much of the research and literature available has been limited to those in emergency services, medical and mental health professions. This groundbreaking project will draw upon the latest literature, research and empirical data, culminating in an educational methodology and program for compassion stress management for military chaplain combat deployment rotation care

Blue genes : sharing and conserving the world's aquatic biodiversity

Co-published with EarthscanThis book analyzes policy gaps and proposes approaches at international, national and community levels to provide a foundation for the conservation and sharing of aquatic biodiversity. The very different nature of aquatic genetic resources (for example, hidden, migratory, publicly accessible) raises ownership issues different from those known to the plant world. In the rush to develop global policies that deal with access to genetic resources, aquatic animals and plants have largely been overlooked. The natural capital of aquatic genetic diversity is rapidly being eroded by overfishing and development, with species disappearing before they are even known to humans