Acorn School campus is located in the shadow of Rich Mountain, near Mena, Arizona. In fall 2006, the school enrollment (K-12) was 476 students, with 76% eligible for free or reduced-cost meals. Its one-teacher family and consumer services (FCS) department offers two programs of study: Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Food Production…

Living in Alaska offers many extreme challenges and opportunities for family and consumer sciences (FCS) teachers to step up to the challenges of facing the future. In this article, the author describes how she started the "Stepping Up For Our Future" program. She relates that as the sole FCS teacher in Chugiak High School, she was…

Recent trends in general education focus on integrating liberal studies considered intellectual, but not practical, and professional fields, which are "viewed as practical but, for that very reason, inherently illiberal." The trend toward capstone experiences in liberal studies assists the integration of general education components with…

Bullying in schools is a topic of serious concern. According to a survey conducted in the United States, approximately 30% of youth in grades 6-10 have reported some involvement in moderate or frequent bullying, and this problem affects about 5.7 million youth. To deal with bullying, 2 years ago, Byrnedale Junior High School in Toledo, Ohio…

New career opportunities exist for family and consumer sciences (FCS)professionals as traditional formats for shopping service, and information transition to a virtual environment. The requisite competencies and skills necessary for effective online operations are identified. Interactions with industry personnel and supporting literature revealed…

The purpose of this project was to develop a science-based course, "Environmental Sustainability Issues for Designers and Merchandisers". The course emphasis was on scientific concepts underlying textile-related environmental problems; the focus was on the "cradle to cradle" design model as an approach for eliminating environmental problems during…

Discussions regarding young children and secure schools often focus on children's physical safety and external stressors such as chaotic families, dangerous neighborhoods, and terrorism. Less attention is given to the emotional security of children in schools, a necessary prerequisite to learning and healthy development. The most effective way to…

This study examined high school student handbooks for evidence that school administrators consider dress codes as one strategy to address the physical and psychological security of students. "Physical" security refers to freedom from actual harm to the body. "Psychological security refers to freedom from implied threats to personal well-being.…

Student course evaluations were completed by 1,457 students in 43 Child and Family Development courses. The impact of six predictor variables (class meeting time, class size, expected grade, perceived fairness of grading procedures, pre-course interest in the subject, and post-course interest in the subject) on student ratings of instructors was…

Regardless of the specific family and consumer sciences (FCS) responsibilities, the job announcement always calls for strong leadership skills. The staff waits in anticipation of the new leader's arrival, expecting that person to bring rapid, positive change. Yet, to contribute to progress in building strong communities, increasing family…

A national survey of secondary family and consumer sciences (FCS) education programs focusing on the 2002-2003 academic year showed that 5,517,976 students were enrolled in FCS classes taught by 37,500 teachers. Three states responding to the survey reported having a state requirement for a specific FCS course, and many states reported that local…

This article highlights results of a review of available literature (1985 to 2004) to substantiate the effectiveness of family and consumer sciences (FCS) secondary-level public school programs. Commissioned by AAFCS, the study found limited research-based evidence supporting the impact of secondary FCS programs. In addition to recommending more…

Tomorrow's financial decision-makers need information and opportunities to build their personal financial management skills. Equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to make rational financial decisions creates the opportunity to shape a more informed, confident citizenry. The Commonwealth Credit Project (CCP) was designed to…

This study explored the effects of parent-child relationships on the global self-worth and morality of juvenile delinquents. Participants were adjudicated as first-time shoplifting/theft offenders. Factor analyses of three self-esteem scales revealed two reliable parent-child relationship (conduct around parents and interactions with parents) and…

It was predicted that the 21st century would be an era of family stress and transformation (McCubbin, McCubbin, Thompson, Han, & Allen, 1997). When evaluating what families face today and what FCS professionals are addressing in current research, curriculum, and programming, it seems that this is indeed the case. Today's FCS professionals need to…