The Effects of Social-Emotional Learning at the Secondary Level

This literature review aims to examine social-emotional learning in schools, and more specifically, at the secondary level. The review explains the importance of SEL at the secondary level and its continuation from preschool through high school. Evidence-based secondary SEL programs are presented, and research, including several meta-analyses, are shared that outline the benefits and disadvantages of social-emotional learning programs. Mandated SEL standards at the federal and state levels are covered, as well as policies and laws that enforce and support SEL. An analysis of the published literature on SEL programs at the secondary level suggests they lead to improved academics, negative behavior, saved tax-payer dollars, and graduation rates

Behavior of Retarded Clients as a Function of Access to Leisure Activities Oriented Toward Task Completion

This thesis represents an investigation of the effects of increased access to task completion activities on the behavior of institutionalized retarded clients. The hypothesis was that increased access to task completion leisure activities (non-competitive free time activities requiring the subject to attend to a constructive task during at least five free time periods over the course of the study) would result in reduced frequency of unacceptable social behaviors in a group of institutionalized retarded clients. A hobby kit designed according to the experimental definition of leisure activity was made available to each subject in the experimental group. Target behaviors (social behaviors to be changed) were based on each subject’s social behavior history obtained from medical charts and determined by an interdisciplinary team composed of a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, speech pathologist, residential supervisor, program specialist, recreation specialist, occupational therapist, physical therapist and nurse. The behavior of the subjects was systematically observed and measured by residential staff on target behavior checklists. Data indicated that the unacceptable social behaviors of the 44 mildly and moderately retarded clients in the experimental group increased significantly while the frequency of this type of behavior decreased slightly in the control group. Explanations for this finding are discussed in conjunction with previous theories and findings

The Best Offense Is a Good Defense: Examining Failure to Conciliate as an Affirmative Defense in Employment Discrimination Cases Brought By the EEOC

Prior to bringing suit on behalf of an employee, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must follow specific procedural requirements and must engage in conciliation. The purpose of conciliation is for opposing parties to avoid the court system by encouraging out-of-court settlements. Employers in the majority of circuits can argue failure to conciliate as an affirmative defense when employers feel the Commission has failed its duty to conciliate. However, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently held that conciliation efforts are not judicially reviewable and as such cannot be raised as an affirmative defense. This Comment will explain why a minimal review of conciliation efforts is necessary, and Congress should amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) to provide courts the power to sanction the Commission or an employer that does not engage in good faith in conciliation. A minimal review of conciliation efforts is the proper standard because it provides the Commission with deference to determine the appropriate conciliation agreement in the circumstances, but also provides an incentive for the parties to conciliate properly the first time. Furthermore, Congress should amend 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f) to provide that a party who has engaged in bad faith conciliation may have to pay the other party’s attorney’s fees or negotiation costs. A minimal review of conciliation procedures and a statutory amendment are the best way to ensure the statutory requirements are meaningfully followed

Texters Beware: Analyzing the Court’s Decision in Kubert v. Best, 75 A.3d 1214 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2013)

Texting while driving creates a grave risk for those who use the roadways. Forty-one states and the District of Columbia ban text messaging for all drivers. Although public policy mandates a reduction in texting while driving, arguably this is a duty that should fall on drivers. However, New Jersey does not stop there. In Kubert v. Best, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, considered whether seventeen-year-old Shannon Colonna was liable when the person she was texting lost control of his car and severely injured a motorcyclist and his passenger. Although Colonna was not found liable, the court held “that a person sending text messages has a duty not to text someone who is driving if the texter knows, or has special reason to know, the recipient will view the text while driving.” This Note examines Kubert in regard to the new duty imposed upon remote texters not to text the driver of a motor vehicle and argues it was unnecessary for the court to formulate such a duty. The duty to avoid texting while driving should fall solely on the driver because remote texters have no knowledge of the circumstances of the recipient of a text message. This Note argues that the duty created will rarely, if ever, be met, and the court did little more than create a useless duty of care

The Role of Delta Sigma Rho Chapters

Delta Sigma Rho is an honorary organization. A candidate who is selected for membership in the society is chosen because he rep resents certain standards of achievement in forensic activity. Once selected, what is his responsibility to the local chapter and to the national organization? This question has arisen several times in the past and more recently in respect to some of the newer chapters. Let\u27s see if we can suggest several directions that the member and the local chapter may take

The Refugee Experience: Involving Pre-migration, In Transit, and Post Migration Issues in Social Services

In this systematic review, I investigate interventions used to address pre-migration, in transit, and post migration stressors amongst the three settings of the refugee relocation process: pre-migration, in transit, and post migration. After a comprehensive search of the literature, nine articles met the inclusion criteria determined for this study. The nine studies were then coded with predefined categories based on intervention setting and the types of issues that were address by the interventions. I found that of the nine studies, eight involved interventions in post migration settings. I also found that eight of the nine studies address pre-migration issues, one of the nine articles included in transit issues, and three of the nine articles included aspects of post migration issues in their interventions. Based on the research included in this study, it is evident that the social services are neglecting to capture the totality of the refugee relocation experience by focusing primarily on pre-migration issues, trauma and torture, in post migration settings