Editorial

Abstract

Two years ago, I used this space to demonstrate that, despiteall the problems and deficits that beleaguer us, the world hasnever been better. That has always been a difficult propositionfor me since I am acutely aware of the pervasive injusticesthat infiltrate every society at all levels. Yet, when wetake the empirical approach, that startling finding is supportedagain and again. This is good news and should provideencouragement and reinforce our determination. However,there are still many problems to conquer and in someareas we are not making the progress needed. Recently Ihave been developing instructional modules for pre-serviceteachers on programs for the prevention of child abuse andneglect, for developing pro-social attitudes and behaviors instudents, and for programs that assist children in selectingmodes of societal participation that are advantageous tothem while rejecting the attraction of the youth street gang.In that research, I found an underbelly of society, often referredto as the American underclass, where many of the assumptionsabout life I take for granted are threatened if notlacking.