American Notes

When California announced in 1987 that it was establishing a state Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem and Personal and Social Responsibility, Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau satirized the idea as a flaky New Age fad. Now the all- volunteer task force has completed its report, and the sneers are turning to cheers. Among the group's sensible recommendations: offering parenting classes to high school students, requiring prospective teachers to take courses in self-esteem, and establishing peer support groups for people on welfare. Most important, the report urges changes in the juvenile-justice system to "attach a reasonable sanction to every criminal act, no matter how minor."

Twelve states are considering similar projects. "We didn't invent self- esteem," says John Vasconcellos, the state legislator who led the task force. "But we've managed to pick it up and give it some visibility."