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Despite often simplistic, black-and-white portrayals of good and evil, children and adolescents face complicated moral issues that can raise more questions than answers. Becoming aware of what constitutes morality is only the first step in determining a course of action, identifying and avoiding problems, and building communities that nurture morality. Young people learn to define and respond to moral dilemmas by interacting with and observing numerous sources. They acquire knowledge from family members, teachers, church leaders, peers, and members of neighborhood organizations. Raising themes of cultural pluralism, responsibility, complexity, affectivity, and practicality, Nurturing Morality addresses such issues as: - Definitions of morality that link past and current debates, enabling a more thorough understanding of moral functioning. - Personal responsibilities and impediments to moral functioning. - How societal structures can facilitate or inhibit moral agency and development. - The importance of acknowledging the common good as well as individual accomplishments. - Nurturing morality through wisdom. Drawing from a wide range of independent research programs, Nurturing Morality makes clear that most forms of human interaction are laden with moral content. It highlights thorny and complex moral questions that cannot be resolved by simple adherence to moral rules. And on the basis of empirically grounded findings, contributors to this volume provide recommendations for how adults can offer valuable guidance to young people learning to negotiate life in a global society. For clinicians, researchers, and students, Nurturing Morality provides much-needed insight and advice on young people's moral development.

Preventing Youth Problems provides information needed to prevent five of the most common, costly, and dangerous problems of adolescence: anti-social behavior, tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse, and sexual behavior that risks disease and unwanted pregnancy. Over the past thirty years, scientific research on children and adolescents identified the major conditions influencing each of these problems. Each of the chapters in this volume provides a concise summary of what is known about one of these five problem behaviors. Each chapter covers the following essential points: - Incidence, prevalence, and cost of the problem, vital for gauging the importance of preventing the problem and for making the case for such efforts in public discussion of priorities; - Biological and environmental influences which increase or decrease the likelihood of these problems; and, - Principles, programs and policies that have been shown to reduce the incidence of each problem, information that can help in prevention of these behaviors.

The subject of minority children's learning has long been the concern of civic leaders, parents, scholars, and educators. The federal legislation, ‘No Child Left Behind'emphasizes the concern even more. It specifically requires assessing the academic achievement of minority students, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, and holding schools accountable for their progress. Schools that fail to attain “Adequate Yearly Progress” face the real possibility of being forced to close if they continually fail to perform. Unlike the past, these are increasingly “high stakes” consequences for educators, parents, students and the schools that serve them. This book is timely and relevant because it addresses these issues, and recommends solutions for Latino, Black, and Asian students. This book also has implications for the problems the nation faces in helping all students to learn well, particularly those that lag in academic achievement. In considering the broad problems and in recommending solutions, the book provides breadth, concision, and unique organization. As the introductory chapter makes clear, the book simultaneously considers not only the three most visible minority groups in the U. S., but draws upon the perspectives of anthropology, education, ethnic studies, psychology, and sociology. From these several persp- tives, this book is organized within three broad sections: 1) culturally diverse families and schooling; 2) issues of immigration and schooling experiences; and 3) socio-cultural perspectives on teaching, learning, and development. Within each section, the authors marshal research literature regarding each ethnic minority group.

In this groundbreaking book, nationally recognized leaders in education and psychology examine the relationships between social emotional education and school success—specifically focusing on interventions that enhance student learning. Offering scientific evidence and practical examples, this volume points out the many benefits of social emotional learning programs.“Today's growing emphasis on academic success and school accountability makes SEL programs more relevant—and useful—to schools than ever before. This groundbreaking book belongs on the shelves of all who are interested in giving students essential tools to succeed.”—From the Foreword by Daniel Goleman“An excellent, authoritative collection of the best ideas, programs, and expert advice available in the field of social and emotional learning. This book is both scholarly and practical.”—Howard Gardner, Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard University“Recommended reading for new and experienced educators, mental health professionals, and anyone interested in learning more about promoting the healthy development of children.”—Marsha Kline Pruett, Yale University School of Medicine, Law and Psychiatry and Yale Child Study Center“This book offers valuable research showing social and emotional learning as more than ‘touchy-feely'—it is at the heart of academic achievement. This is a must-read for anyone who cares about the whole child.”—Paul Houston, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators