Pupils and School Leavers: Future Numbers

This Report brings up to date the evaluation last published in Report on Education No. 96 ("Trends in School Population," November 1979). It looks at the prospect for primary and secondary pupil numbers through the 1980s and beyond in the light of information on the school population and births up to 1981 and of alternative forecasts of births in future years. Projections of the numbers leaving school are also presented. The figures are for England.¹     

Research On The Effects of Group Standardized Testing On Instruction, Pupils, and Teachers: New Directions for Policy

In response to an increasingly "test driven" approach to curriculum and instruction, a growing body of research is documenting the negative effects of standardized testing on instruction, pupils, and teachers. The curriculum has been narrowed to fit the tests, valuable instructional time is spent on test preparation, students are stressed by the preparation and the test-taking, and teachers are pressured to use unacceptable testing procedures which may even include blatant cheating. Students are subjected to instructional methods that provide them with test taking skills but no genuine understanding of the subject matter. Research supports that there is an urgent need for a change in testing policies. Massive standardized testing of young children must be eliminated. More authentic and performance based evaluation such as the development of student portfolios should be instituted. Attention to the negative effects of standardized testing and the elimination of such testing of young children is especially urgent in light of the current discussions centering on increasing the scope of national testing beginning with the administration of a school readiness instrument prior to school entry.     

Research On The Effects of Group Standardized Testing On Instruction,Pupils, and Teachers: New Directions for Policy

In response to an increasingly "test driven" approach to curriculum and instruction, a growing body of research is documenting the negative effects of standardized testing on instruction, pupils, and teachers. The curriculum has been narrowed to fit the tests, valuable instructional time is spent on test preparation, students are stressed by the preparation and the test-taking, and teachers are pressured to use unacceptable testing procedures which may even include blatant cheating. Students are subjected to instructional methods that provide them with test taking skills but no genuine understanding of the subject matter. Research supports that there is an urgent need for a change in testing policies. Massive standardized testing of young children must be eliminated. More authentic and performance based evaluation such as the development of student portfolios should be instituted. Attention to the negative effects of standardized testing and the elimination of such testing of young children is especially urgent in light of the current discussions centering on increasing the scope of national testing beginning with the administration of a school readiness instrument prior to school entry.     

Pupils Helping other Pupils with their Learning: Cross-age tutoring in a primary and secondary school

Doctoral students leave their programs early due to lack of mentoring relationships needed to support degree completion and success. However, how mentoring contributes to Ed.D degree completion is not widely studied. In this qualitative narrative study, we sought to explore how multiple mentoring relationships reduced attrition in an Ed.D program. Study participants shared their experiences with mentors across their life domains (academic, personal, and professional) to seek support needed to promote progression and or completion of the program. Each mentoring relationship served a specific purpose. For instance, family members and friends supported participants with home duties, childcare, encouragement, and praise during their doctoral journey. Supervisors supported the participant’s success both academically and professionally. Fellow doctoral students enhanced the learning experience by sharing different perspectives and providing academic and career advice/strategies. Faculty mentoring support was critical to the academic and dissertation process as well as to scholarly development.     

Science: Access for All Pupils

Sections 3 and 4 of the 1988 Education Reform Act include science as one of the compulsory core subjects in the National Curriculum and empower the Secretary of State to specify attainment targets, programmes of study, and assessment arrangements for science for children of compulsory school age. The Science Working Group appointed to advise the Secretaries of State on science reported in June and its recommendations for attainment targets, programmes of study and statements of attainment were published in August alongside the science proposals of the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales, in Science for Ages 5 to 16 . Alan Jones, head, physical science department, Trent Polytechnic, Paul Denley, south west regional project officer, Secondary Science Curriculum Review, and Christopher Butcher, senior lecturer, Trent Polytechnic, discuss the report.     

Disaffected Pupils: reconstructing the sociological perspective

During the last 25 years, the study of disaffected pupils has been a central topic in the sociology of education. Yet despite its popularity in academic circles the impact of the sociological perspective on policy has been negligible; today the individualised, psychologically orientated approach stills holds sway in most parts of the educational profession. This paper suggests that part of this failure at least is attributable to theoretical inadequacies in the sociological research that has been carried out to date, much of which is based on a one‐dimensional notion of social structure and an over‐rationalistic view of individual psychology. Three key ‘educational structures’ are introduced (the production of ability, the production of values, the production of occupational identity) and a more appropriate model of human personality is outlined.     

Asian Pupils and Special Issues

The special educational needs which some Asian pupils experience have been largely ignored in the past. However they are now receiving more attention. Professor Sally Tomlinson, Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, discusses some of the issues which arise.     

Disruptive Pupils and Teacher Stress

Teachers have identified a number of stress situations in their work with disruptive children. They experience insecurity because of the unpredictability of the children's behaviour. They feel vulnerable as they doubt the effectiveness of their coping resources. They are frustrated in their attempts to establish good communications with each other and with the professional workers outside their schools. Residential workers report additional demands because of their feelings of isolation and limited social relationships.

Staff responses to these stress situations can be grouped into three main categories: (i) behavioural; (ii) emotional; (iii) psychosomatic. Their recommendations for the reduction of stress emphasize the importance of group support and good inter‐professional communications. Some suggestions have been made to promote the development of healthy schools in which staff can find opportunities for personal and professional growth. Further explorations need to be made in the identification and development of inter‐professional teamwork skills.     

The Holmes reports: perils and possibilities

There has not yet been an attempt to categorize or critique the substantial body of literature that has arisen around the Holmes Group’s three reports regarding the treatment of teaching and teacher education: Tomorrow’s Teachers (1986), Tomorrow’s Schools (1990) and Tomorrow’s Schools of Education (1995). This article represents an initial attempt to do so, as well as to discuss what impact, if any, the Holmes suggestions have had on current practice. This literature revolves around the themes of gender, professionalism, and epistemology—themes which have dominated discussions of American teacher education for at least 150 years. Criticism of the reports accuses the Holmes Group of covering over and even perpetuating dilemmas related to thee issues with politically calculating pseudo-solutions. Favorable responses to the Holmes reports generally claim that they ‘professionally’ empower teachers by showing increased respect for teachers’ ways of knowing and doing in the classroom.     

小学生学习展示性评定的理论与实践

一、学习展示性评定的内涵与基本模式学习展示性评定是指根据学生自己给出的解决问题的过程与答案和展示的各种作品来判断、评价学生所获得的知识、技能、情感、态度等方面的一种评价方式。其核心是允许被评估者以各种合适的方式向公众展示他们的实力和对课程的理解。学习展示性评定融质性评价与量化评价为一体,注重形成性评价的作用。学习展示性评定终结性评价的作用,更加注重平常的形成性评价所提供的信息,同时也要充分发挥学期末或年级末评价对促进学生发展的作用。学习展示性评定是一种激励性评价。激励性评价不是指对学生只作肯定评价…     

Differences between Pupils with Good Sit Ting Posture and Pupils with Poor Sitting Posture

Abstract

Developing Understanding of Self and Others (DUSO) is one of several elementary guidance programs to appear in the past several years. DUSO, as well as the other available programs, is designed to help children better understand social-emotional behavior. The publisher of the program, as well as the publishers of all other elementary guidance programs, provides no assessment device which can be used to determine whether the objectives of the program are accomplished. A search of the literature revealed a void. The DUSO Affectivity Assessment device was especially constructed to fill this void. Since its appearance it has been used with some success, but evidence concerning its practicality, reliability and validity is lacking.     

Personality Discovery: Personality Patterns in Teachers and Their Pupils

Having provided an historical review of the development of theories of personality, this paper discusses the significant research that has been undertaken in this area. One example is Myers' work which is important both in terms of the original research and of the production of a questionnaire (type indicator) which has been used in over 40 countries. Using Jung's theory of psychological types and the more recent work of David Keirsey on temperaments, Patricia Hedges argues that there will be cases where a mismatch between teacher and pupil temperament will exist, with potentially serious consequences. The final section introduces a programme designed to increase self-understanding, heighten awareness and ultimately lead to more satisfactory relationships and to more effective learning and teaching.     

学习困难学生教育干预中的激励手段

学习困难学生(以下简称学困生)的动机水平和任务坚持性已越来越受到特殊教育界的关注.传统的学习困难研究一般从学困生的认知角度进行分析和设计教育手段,但现在人们越来越认识到非认知因素对学困生的影响.     

Pupils at Risk: A Framework for Action

Gerard Egan describes the shadow side of management as all the important activities and arrangements that do not get identified, discussed and managed. John Sullivan argues that the image of ‘shadows’ is relevant to understanding some features of schools. The leadership role of heads is related to gaps between mission and practice and the ‘shadow’ side of organizations. Emphasis on mission could lead to the imposition of ethos. If heads are to avoid slipping into manipulation, it is suggested that they might usefully retrieve some insights from Aristotle, especially with regard to the art of rhetoric.