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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Lack Of Quality Civic Education In Public Schools In The United States, Sydney Ward
Lack Of Quality Civic Education In Public Schools In The United States, Sydney Ward
Ballard Brief
A lack of quality civic education affects nearly every K-12 student in the United States. The content and methods of civic education curriculum focus on memorization, lecture, and textbook learning, creating an ineffective learning method for students. Teachers are met with polarized classrooms and communities, creating hesitancy to approach political topics while inequity in funding between states and districts leaves schools without consistent resources or emphasis on civics. legislative policies and nonprofit organizations have dictated some of civic education's most recent standards and practices, though this federal approach has not been universally adopted in local classrooms. As a result of …
Child Labor In Myanmar, Alyssa Augustus
Child Labor In Myanmar, Alyssa Augustus
Ballard Brief
In Myanmar, there are approximately 1.1 million children between the ages of 5 to 17 involved in child labor. Domestic demand, familial poverty, Myanmar's education system, government laws, and filial piety perpetuate the employment of children. Child laborers suffer from physical health issues, are more likely to drop-out of school, and stall the growth of a skilled labor force in Myanmar. Focusing on educating child workers and re-funding the Myanmar Program on the Elimination of Child Labor can eliminate the number of children involved in the employment sector.
Racial Inequality In Public School Discipline For Black Students In The United States, Emily Peterson
Racial Inequality In Public School Discipline For Black Students In The United States, Emily Peterson
Ballard Brief
Racial bias and limited teacher training all influence how teachers and administrators react to Black student misbehavior. In addition, recently implemented institutional practices like zero-tolerance policies and increased emphasis on school security have also contributed to increases in the rate of disciplinary measures, especially suspension, for Black students. Experience with school discipline can significantly harm student academic achievement and increase the likelihood of Black students dropping out of school. More involvement with school discipline on the student's part is also associated with more serious consequences including decreased likelihood of enrollment in higher education and increased likelihood of involvement with the …
Educational Disparities Among Racial And Ethnic Minority Youth In The United States, Lauren Bushnell
Educational Disparities Among Racial And Ethnic Minority Youth In The United States, Lauren Bushnell
Ballard Brief
While the gap in high school completion has narrowed over time. the percentage of Black and Hispanic high school graduates is still significantly less than that of their White counterparts. Throughout the nation, minority students experience disparities in their educational experience that directly impact their long-term learning and success. The most significant contributors to educational disparities amongst the nation's racial and ethnic minorities include poverty, segregation and racial school districting, inadequate language resources for English language learners. bullying. and lack of access to health resources. The consequences of educational disparities among these minorities include continued poverty, decreased college enrollment and …
Lack Of Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Women And Girls In East Africa, Lizzie Kearon
Lack Of Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Women And Girls In East Africa, Lizzie Kearon
Ballard Brief
Women and girls in East Africa, as well as many other parts of the world, live in a culture where menstruation and reproductive health are not discussed. This is because menstruation and anything related to it is considered taboo. Both women and girls often do not understand the reproductive cycle of their bodies or know how to manage their menstruation. Girls commonly miss or drop out of school because they do not understand what is happening to them or are unaware of how to hygienically manage their natural cycle. The issue is perpetuated by menstrual hygiene products being expensive and …
Mental Health Concerns In Armenia, Morgan Rushford, Sara Jensen
Mental Health Concerns In Armenia, Morgan Rushford, Sara Jensen
Ballard Brief
Armenia is one of many countries whose population faces mental health struggles to a relatively high degree. However, the extent of these struggles is relatively unknown due to the country's underreporting of recent, accurate data on mental health statistics. Armenia's mental health crisis can be attributed to many factors. some of which include residual trauma from various events in the country's history (such as the Armenian Genocide and the earthquake of 1988), domestic violence, perpetuation of cultural stigmas that keep individuals from seeking help for mental illness, and lack of resources and healthcare infrastructure. A few of the most prominent …
Indigenous Adult Illiteracy In The Andean Region Of South America, Alexa Ballard
Indigenous Adult Illiteracy In The Andean Region Of South America, Alexa Ballard
Ballard Brief
Indigenous adult illiteracy is often prevalent in poorer, less economically stable regions, such as the Andean Region of South America, specifically Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. The issue stems from several factors, such as language discrepancies, high dropout rates, and lack of access to quality education. Consequently, illiterate indigenous adults are more likely to suffer from poor health and low-quality employment. Women are more likely to suffer domestic violence and discrimination, and in general, illiteracy for both men and women contributes to decreased civic engagement and economic stability. Several programs currently exist to help illiterate individuals in the Andean Region, such …
Child Labor Trafficking In The Volta Region Of Ghana, Cadee Wambolt
Child Labor Trafficking In The Volta Region Of Ghana, Cadee Wambolt
Ballard Brief
Ghana's Lake Volta region is home to over 20,000 child slaves. Due to a combination of preexisting social problems and a distortion of old cultural practices. a dangerous cycle of human trafficking and child labor is occurring. Most of the child slaves on Lake Volta are doing work that is considered hazardous. In fact, Lake Volta attracts a lot of attention for its reputation as an especially traumatic and abusive avenue for child trafficking. Due to its particularly dangerous and abusive nature. these victims of child trafficking are subject to extreme levels of abuse. trauma. death and disease. and a …
Educational Disparities Among Girls In India, Jenna Cook
Educational Disparities Among Girls In India, Jenna Cook
Ballard Brief
There are great educational disparities among girls in India. Low literacy rates and lack of education are some of the inequalities found in this demographic. Many of these girls are raised without the expectation that they will complete their education, and since they become the mothers of the next generation, educational disparities become a cyclical. intergenerational issue. Many other factors contribute to the lack of education, such as cultural values, child marriage, a scarcity of feminine hygiene products, and child labor. The continued shortage of formal education among young females leads to poverty, decreased child well-being, health issues, and increased …
Lack Of Educational Opportunities For The Roma People In Eastern Europe, Morgan Selander, Emily Walter
Lack Of Educational Opportunities For The Roma People In Eastern Europe, Morgan Selander, Emily Walter
Ballard Brief
The Roma people constitute one of the largest ethnic minorities in Europe, with 10 to 12 million Roma in the European Union as of 2016. Although they make up a large part of Europe, it has been difficult for the Roma people to fully integrate into society, causing educational gaps between Roma and native children. One contributing factor to this educational disparity is discrimination. both racial and social, against the Roma people: this is also closely tied to Roma placement in inferior, special education schools. Additionally. some cultural traditions of the Roma (such as their occupations, migratory patterns, and early …
Sexual Violence Against Female College Students In The United States, Lauren Wolters, Macy Smith
Sexual Violence Against Female College Students In The United States, Lauren Wolters, Macy Smith
Ballard Brief
Sexual violence against female college students is a prevelant and deep-rooted issue across universities in the us. Despite an increase in attention from the federal government. it is predicted that 1 in 4 women will experience sexual violence as undergeradute students. A pattern of university negligence surrounding cases of sexual violence suggests that universities prioritize securing funding and protecting perpetrators over aiding victims and preventing sexual assault. Several other factors contribute to the occurence of sexual violence including dangerous fraternity traditions. extensive alcohol and drug use among college students, and vast normalization of sexual violence-but the only true cause of …
Elevated School Dropout Rates In Rural China, Mollie Bradley
Elevated School Dropout Rates In Rural China, Mollie Bradley
Ballard Brief
Children in the rural provinces of northern and western China face challenges in obtaining educational opportunities that could aid them in overcoming their poverty-ridden upbringing. These challenges come due to inherent inequalities between the rural and urban regions of China. which stem from a historical diversion of resources from the western to eastern provinces. The factors that specifically affect students and their families as they strive to attend school and gain a quality education are the lack of properly trained and motivated teachers. the high cost of schooling borne by families. the economic inequality of rural and urban provinces, the …
Inadequate Residential Care For Children In Cambodia, Madison Coleman
Inadequate Residential Care For Children In Cambodia, Madison Coleman
Ballard Brief
Residential care institutions, or orphanages, are becoming increasingly more common in Cambodia. These institutions are not closely monitored by the Cambodian government. causing many children to be raised in unsafe and inadequate environments. The vast majority of the children living in these orphanages have at least one living parent but are being sent to live in an institution because their parents cannot afford to provide for their material needs or their education. The donations of time and money from foreigners. as well as the relative ease of implementing institutions rather than alternative care. also contribute to the increasing number of …
Linguistic Neglect Of Deaf Children In The United States, Mishonne Marks
Linguistic Neglect Of Deaf Children In The United States, Mishonne Marks
Ballard Brief
Most deaf children in the United States are born to hearing parents who are not familiar with Deaf culture or American Sign Language (ASL). As a result. deaf children are in danger of experiencing linguistic neglect. meaning they do not receive sufficient language input. This linguistic neglect is typically unintentional and can be a result of deaf history, institutionalized oppression, current stigmas, and educational inequality. Linguistic neglect can result in deaf children experiencing decreased mental health, stunted cognitive development. poor academic performance. and employment difficulties. Several organizations are currently working to address and prevent linguistic neglect by spreading deaf awareness, …
Chronic Poverty Among Youth In The United States, Kara Reed
Chronic Poverty Among Youth In The United States, Kara Reed
Ballard Brief
In the United States, 15.5 million children are living in poverty. The more time children spend in poverty, the more likely they are to continue to experience poverty as an adult. The cycle of intergenerational and chronic poverty is perpetuated by various factors. such as unsatisfied basic needs. lack of access to quality education, and issues related to underemployment and unemployment. As a result. youth in poverty are more likely to perform poorly in school, be exposed to and affected by crime. and experience health problems. Some leading practices for poverty focus on strengthening the quality of early childhood education. …
Homelessness In The United States, Cassie Hall
Homelessness In The United States, Cassie Hall
Ballard Brief
Homelessness is an issue for individuals all across the country who lack stable housing and the finances for other necessities like water. food and safety. Homelessness occurs for several reasons. including poverty, mental illness. and substance abuse. Many negative outcomes have been reported as a result of homelessness. including negative impacts on physical health, worsening of mental illness. worsening of substance abuse. and negative outcomes for children and youth. Several practices have been implemented to avoid such outcomes including emergency shelters. food kitchens. transitional housing, and Housing First approaches. Practices in Housing First have the greatest impact to report.
Girls' Access To Education In Ghana, Harper Forsgren, Asia Haslam, Shelby Hunt, Nathan Heim, Andrew Wirkus
Girls' Access To Education In Ghana, Harper Forsgren, Asia Haslam, Shelby Hunt, Nathan Heim, Andrew Wirkus
Ballard Brief
Lack of access to education negatively impacts a person's development in a number of ways and leads to fewer opportunities and increased risks for the individual. Females are disproportionately affected by the lack of gender equality in Ghana's educational system. This inequality comes as a result of practices such as child marriage, child labor, inadequate training of teachers. the inability to accommodate for girls' menstruation cycles at school, and hidden costs of sending children to school. All of these factors are confounded by social norms that tend to see female education as less valuable and thus more disposable than male …
Usage Of Electronic Cigarettes Among Youth In The United States, Cade Hyde
Usage Of Electronic Cigarettes Among Youth In The United States, Cade Hyde
Ballard Brief
Electronic cigarette usage among youth in the United States has been rising at an increasingly large rate in recent years. Usage rates of electronic cigarettes (hereafter referred to as e-cigarettes) doubled among high school students in a 4 year span from 2013 to 2017. The year following, the percentage of high school students using e-cigarettes doubled again: in 2018, 20.8% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes. as compared to 11.7% in 2017. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), currently 1 in 5 high school students consistently use e-cigarettes. making them the most-used type of …
Substance Abuse Among College Students In The United States, Sam Lofgran
Substance Abuse Among College Students In The United States, Sam Lofgran
Ballard Brief
College students are one of the largest groups of substance abusers in the United States. Many turn to substances to deal with mental illness and academic stress, particularly using study drugs to help with their academics. Students are exposed to drugs because of party culture and Greek life, where substance abuse is much more common. Substance abuse impacts many of these students' education, leading them to get lower grades and struggle academically. It also results in more emergency room visits due to substance abuse and addictions. Long-term drug abuse often leads to long-term health problems as well. Universities and outside …
Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Adolescent Girls In Kenya, Kelsey Sampson
Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Adolescent Girls In Kenya, Kelsey Sampson
Ballard Brief
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is the processes and resources surrounding menstruation. including the knowledge, products. and social norms associated with it. For many adolescent girls in Kenya, MHM is a serious and impactful issue. Although there are likely more causal factors, research suggests that some of the largest causes of this problem are poverty, the culture surrounding menstruation. inadequate sexual health education, and poor sanitation infrastructure. These barriers to adequate menstrual hygiene management create adverse consequences for the Kenyan girls, including infections. poor mental well-being, increased sexual activity, decreased education attainment, and gender inequality. Although changing the status quo of …
Illiteracy Among Adults In The Us, Chloe Haderlie, Alyssa Clark
Illiteracy Among Adults In The Us, Chloe Haderlie, Alyssa Clark
Ballard Brief
Illiteracy affects a person's ability to fully participate in and contribute to the world around them. About 18% of the US adult population is functionally illiterate. Hispanics, older people, and incarcerated people are more likely to be low literate than other US adults. Major factors influencing literacy development include education, socioeconomic status, learning English as a second language, learning disabilities, and crime. Many of these causes and consequences of illiteracy are intersecting and cyclical. Additionally, illiteracy is perpetuated from parent to child and is likely to lead to higher chances of unemployment and poverty. Adult literacy programs with a developed …