The past decade saw heightened policy activism in the field of reading at both the federal level and across virtually all 50 states. Initially sparked by disagreements about methods for teaching children to read, the so-called "reading wars" stirred heated debates on a variety of issues: levels and trends of reading achievement, pedagogy, standards and assessment, and education equity, among others. Embedded within these debates were the political agendas of state executives and legislatures, the interests of advocacy groups, and the ideologies of reading professionals, which were collectively shaping state reading policy development. Drawing primarily on interviews with 366 policy actors from nine states, this book presents a comprehensive investigation of the state reading policy domain employing multiple theoretical frameworks and research methods. Using social network analysis, the authors examined the interplay among a plethora of policy actors embedded in reading policy networks. They explored in depth policy actors' divergent beliefs on key reading-related issues, the causal stories told, and the policy solutions proposed. In addition, they examined the variety of lobbying tactics that interest groups utilized to gain influence over the policymaking process and to advance their policy agenda. As the most significant research endeavor in the area of state reading policy to date, this cross-state comparative study sheds light on the multifaceted nature and the intricacies of the policy processes in reading, and in education in general. The findings of this study bear important implications for both policy actors and education professionals. This study also makes a substantial contribution to policy research in education by demonstrating how theoretical frameworks and analytic methods that have not been fully utilized in education could serve as powerful tools for exploring educational policy processes.

This book surveys the cultural, literary, and cinematic impact of white-authored films and imaginative literature on American society from Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin to Kathryn Stockett's Th e Hel p .

This book surveys the cultural, literary, and cinematic impact of white-authored films and imaginative literature on American society from Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin to Kathryn Stockett's Th e Hel p .

A Force To Be Reckoned With, is the second book in the Tom Padgett Mystery Series. It begins where Delayed Reckoning left off. Tom Padgett has had his share of setbacks over the past several months, and he now finds himself without a home and forced to share a house with his new best friend, Nick. Bella is not happy with the new arrangements. Tom continues struggling in the dating department, but slowly he is making progress. Bill Wilson the sheriff of Nicholas County, is dead set on getting Padgett, it doesn't matter if it's legally or illegally. Wilson is the law in this part of Kentucky. New leads all point to Padgett, at least in Wilson's mind they do. Wilson still can't seem to keep his drinking under control, although at times he feels he nearly has alcoholism licked. How much can Padgett take, from Wilson? Will there ever be anything else for Wilson to focus on? Which one of the men is going to come out on top? Will it be Wilson or Padgett?

Tom Padgett is finished with law enforcement. He lost his job, lost his wife and most other possessions. Tom left the city and moved to a remote trailer in Nicholas County, Kentucky. Now, he and his dog Bella, a Golden/Labrador mix will live the simple life. Sheriff Wilson doesn't like the newest resident to his county. He has his sights on Tom Padgett. His instincts tell him not to trust the man. Wilson is extremely confident and always trusts his gut feelings. He knows Padgett isn't an angel. He's going to prove it. Since Padgett arrived in Nicholas County, crime has skyrocketed. More and more things continue to happen in the rural area where Padgett lives. Tom doesn't appear to be connected to any of the crimes, but strangely, many of the crime scenes are familiar to him. Tom keeps this to himself. He doesn't need to give the Sheriff any additional ammunition. Wilson can't shake the thought that Padgett is some sort of vigilante. He openly suggests that Padgett is involved in many of the recent crimes. Tom can see the writing on the wall. Retirement isn't going to be easy, especially with Bill Wilson's interference. Will Wilson's pressure on Padgett finally pay off or will Padgett's inner conflicts expose him? Could this be grounds for delayed reckoning?

Before there was a snowman, a reindeer, or a man in a red suit, there was a baby in a manger. Christmas is a joyous season, but the joy came after centuries of divine silence and human oppression. Dark times seemed hopeless, but people still chose to believe that Yahweh was who He said He was, and would fulfill His promise to send a Deliverer. As she did with Through Love's Eyes, Mary Young gives you a fresh look at a familiar story by taking you inside the hearts and thoughts of the participants as they wait for God's promised miracles. Their hope shines through the pages of this book, bringing inspiration and encouragement to all who read it.

Director of The Terminator, Aliens and Titanic, James Cameron's latest movie, Avatar, is the most viewed cinema release of all time, yet to date receives little academic attention. Filling the gap, editor of www.DeepFocusFilm.com, Bryn V. Young-Roberts, researches Avatar's historical and cultural relevance with its first in-depth examination while simultaneously discussing the Cameron oeuvre. From the perspective of historical contextualisation and cultural analysis we decipher its socially significant subtext, encouraging a view that Avatar is not exclusively a generic entertainment spectacle. Providing foundations for future studies, we examine the film as metaphor for the Iraq War, advocator of the Internet as liberation tool, and political stance to the Bush administration. Fear of the industrial-military complex, and romantic ideals of Class are also analysed. Ultimately, the volume summarizes Avatar in relation to Cameron's other work and how it fits into our larger, contemporary society.

The past decade saw heightened policy activism in the field of reading at both the federal level and across virtually all 50 states. Initially sparked by disagreements about methods for teaching children to read, the so-called "reading wars" stirred heated debates on a variety of issues: levels and trends of reading achievement, pedagogy, standards and assessment, and education equity, among others. Embedded within these debates were the political agendas of state executives and legislatures, the interests of advocacy groups, and the ideologies of reading professionals, which were collectively shaping state reading policy development. Drawing primarily on interviews with 366 policy actors from nine states, this book presents a comprehensive investigation of the state reading policy domain employing multiple theoretical frameworks and research methods. Using social network analysis, the authors examined the interplay among a plethora of policy actors embedded in reading policy networks. They explored in depth policy actors' divergent beliefs on key reading-related issues, the causal stories told, and the policy solutions proposed. In addition, they examined the variety of lobbying tactics that interest groups utilized to gain influence over the policymaking process and to advance their policy agenda. As the most significant research endeavor in the area of state reading policy to date, this cross-state comparative study sheds light on the multifaceted nature and the intricacies of the policy processes in reading, and in education in general. The findings of this study bear important implications for both policy actors and education professionals. This study also makes a substantial contribution to policy research in education by demonstrating how theoretical frameworks and analytic methods that have not been fully utilized in education could serve as powerful tools for exploring educational policy processes.

INTERVIEWING IN SOCIAL WORK A Sociological Analysis BY PAULINE V. YOUNG, Ph. D. The University of Southern California, Author of Pilgrims of Russian Town INTRODUCTION BY JOANNA C. COLCORD Russell Sage Foundation FIRST EDITION SIXTH IMPRESSION McGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY, INC. NEW YORK AND LONDON 1935 COPYRIGHT, 1935, BY THE MCGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY, INC. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the publishers. THE MAPLE PRESS COMPANY, YORK, PA. To ERNEST W. BURGESS TEACHER AND FRIEND PREFACE Interviewing is the tool par excellence of the social worker. It is the most constantly used of all social work techniques. Whether with clients, fellow-workers, executives, or public officials, social workers are constantly using some form of inter viewing. They find themselves frequently under the necessity of inducing people to talk fully, freely, and truthfully they must explore the experiences, attitudes, and opinions of a wide variety of personalities. The facility with which interviewing is carried on often means the difference between good and bad social work. Interviewing is a difficult and delicate art. Failure to secure needed information, invasion of the interviewees personality, conflict, and hostility - occur only too frequently even with experienced interviewers. Fortunately interviewing has proved to be a communicable technique. The inexperienced can learn from the experienced, and the professionals can pass on to each other much of the skill they have acquired. True, an indispensable minimum of desirable personal traits is needed. The taciturn, sullen, or cynical interviewer or theunimaginative, dull, insensitive interviewer, as well as the talkative, thoughtless, or scatter brained, can hope to accomplish little beyond carrying on formal questioning and the mere filling out of schedules and face-sheets, however much they may know academically of the sociology and psychology of interviewing processes. On the other hand, the sympathetic, cultured, sensitive worker may fail for the reason that he does not understand how to deal with a nervous or unresponsive or deceptive interviewee. For such interviewers a social psychological analysis of interviewing processes and a careful study of the experiences of other interviewers have much to offer. In the present state of the social sciences and of social work in particular a volume on interviewing cannot pretend to deal with all the possibilities suggested by so broad a subject. Professional literature on interviewing is still in a nebulous state. So far vii viii PREFACE as it is available the author has drawn heavily upon it. Where there are gaps she has been compelled to fall back upon her own experience and information. Since interviewing is in many respects inseparable from general case work, it has not been possible to avoid considerable dis cussion of case work problems. The present treatment is for several reasons sociological. Interviewing as here conceived is itself a phenomenon in the general field of social interaction, and the problems which it faces have to do for the most part with social situations. Further more, such competence as the author may have lies in the field of sociology. The needs of both practitioners and students have been kept in mind in the preparation of this volume. That is, logical aswell as pedagogical considerations have governed the organiza tion of the material. However, much of the critical evaluation of the material presented is left for the students to grapple with under the guidance of the instructor who knows their academic background. The author has sought to avoid dogmatic atti tudes on controversial matters and indoctrination of the student in case work, and has endeavored to supply the bases for inde pendent judgment. PAULINE V. YOUNG. Los ANGELES, CALIF., February, 1935...

In this reference book, entries are arranged alphabetically by poet. In order to reflect the influence of tradition as well as innovation, poets from various eras will be represented in every volume. Each Poetry Criticism entry covers the poet's major or most commonly read works and discusses his or her most prominent themes and poetic techniques. Entries contain an introductory biographical sketch, excerpts of critical analyses of major poems and sources for additional reading.

Each volume of this reference provides substantial critical essays and biographical information on four to eight major poets from all eras. Entries provide an introductory biographical sketch, an author portrait, a primary bibliography, annotated full text and excerpted criticism of the poets works and sources for additional reading. When available, comments from the poets themselves are included. Approximately 90-95% of critical essays are full text.Each volume includes cumulative author name and nationality indexes as well as a volume-specific title index. A cumulative title index to the entire series is published separately.