Advocacy for gender minority students: recommendations for school counsellors

Abstract

Research shows that teachers’ and educators’ responses to gender diversity issues in schools either improves or limits the experiences of students. The school counsellor has an important role to play in this process by working closely with other stakeholders to advocate for transgender, intersex and genderqueer (TIG) students. Following a review of recent developments in the USA, recommendations are made and resources identified to assist school counsellors in validating TIG students, and improving school systems in pursuit of their academic, social and emotional success.     

The Implications of Every Child Matters and the Children Act for Schools

This article explores the implications of the publication of the Green Paper on Every Child Matters , which proposes the most radical changes in services for children and their families since the Children's Act, 1988. The Green Paper focuses upon improving every level of professional support for children perceived to be vulnerable and in need. The legislation and subsequent changes will bring about a whole new agenda and philosophy that will directly or indirectly involve every school, teacher, paraprofessional and educational support service. It will also involve changes in supporting parents and carers, and lead to earlier intervention, more accountability and integration between services as well as enhancing workforce reform. In conjunction with the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, 2003, it will provide a new impetus for tackling truancy and disruptive conduct. It is also likely to lead to a rethink about the wider role of schools and aspects of pastoral care practice. Its implementation will require a reassessment of the continuing professional training needs of all teachers and senior professionals working in schools and in related activities such as education social work. The legislation will mean that schools are likely to become all-the-year-round community centres with amended opening hours in order to meet the needs of disadvantaged youngsters and their families.     

Educational Psychologists’ Contribution to the Every Child Matters Agenda: The parents’ view

In the DfES review of the role and contribution of educational psychologists (2006) the views of a range of different stakeholders were surveyed about the work that EPs do. As part of this process, questionnaires were devised and sent out to 300 parents, 30 from 10 local authorities (LA), distributed by the principal educational psychologist in each LA. Thirty per cent of parents completed the questionnaires and their responses indicated that they valued highly the contribution made by EPs to the outcomes for their child. Their responses also illustrate the broad range of work in which EPs are involved and the multiprofessional nature of support that is available. In this paper, the main findings from the survey are discussed and consideration is given to their implications for the future development of EP services.     

The impact of Every Child Matters on trainee secondary teachers' understanding of professional knowledge

This study is concerned with the way in which the introduction in England of Every Child Matters (ECM), a mandatory framework for the well‐being of all pupils, has created new intraprofessional and interprofessional expectations about the development of professional knowledge for pre‐service secondary school teachers. In the light of current literature, the paper seeks to establish whether ECM for secondary teachers provides a simple reconciliation between subject expertise and the facilitation of human learning or a much more profound challenge to the development of values‐based autonomous professional knowledge. The research undertaken using questionnaires and interviews with cohorts of trainee secondary teachers between 2005 and 2008 aims to identify the impact of ECM on the development of their pre‐service professional knowledge. The data demonstrate a degree of movement in emphasis from an organic, values‐based understanding to a propositional, skills‐based understanding of professional knowledge. It is argued that this movement in emphasis is, to some degree, related to the instrumental implementation of a social justice policy that may have contributed to the weakening of the intrinsic relationship between teachers' values, ownership of professional knowledge and pupil well‐being. The study concludes that the challenge for teacher educators is to find the critical questions and pedagogies to counter the view that professional knowledge is simply the acquisition of strategies, skills and safeguarding knowledge that ensures accountability and legality in the classroom.     

Reconceptualizing the Zone of Proximal Development: The Importance of the Third Voice

A reconceptualization of the zone of proximal development (ZPD) is proposed by introducing the notion of dialogicality and voice. Drawing on Bakhtin’s semiotics, it is argued that the dialogical interactions occurring within the ZPD must be understood in a larger context to go beyond the visible and audible participants. More specifically, in addition to the first voice of the more capable participant and the second voice of the less competent participant, there is a third voice that serves as an immediate agenda of the ZPD. The third voice exerts its influence through the first voice by mediating the latter’s intrapsychological functioning. The compatibility between the agenda of the third voice and the developmental goals of the zone determines whether the progression through the ZPD is enhanced or constrained. Standardized testing is given as an example of the third voice with a focus on its compatibility with the developmental goal of the ZPD. Barohny Eun is mainly interested in developing an instructional model for K-5 English as a Second Language (ESL) students based on the sociocultural theories of Vygotsky. Steven E. Knotek is mainly interested in early intervention and literacy. Audrey L. Heining-Boynton is mainly interested in foreign and second language education.     

日本国立大学法人化的政策变迁研究——基于支持联盟框架的分析

2003年,日本国会正式通过<国立大学法人化法>.法案的形成,源于日本国立大学法人化支持派在政策子系统内外部因素的影响下,通过政策取向学习,修正反对派的价值观念和信仰体系,双方各自形成比较稳定的支持联盟.支持联盟的价值观念和信仰体系的改变是国立大学法人化政策变迁的关键因素.同时,政策子系统的外部因素在政策变迁中也起重要作用.     

Every Child Matters: the perceptions of a sample of initial teacher education trainees in England

We discuss an investigation into the understandings of trainee teachers about government policy, using, as an example, the UK government's ‘Every Child Matters’ (ECM). We discuss the research methods used to gather and analyse data from 197 initial teacher education trainees in three institutions in England drawn from six subject areas. The project focussed on trainees' reactions to the anticipated outcomes of ECM and their confidence to help implement the initiative in their roles as form tutors (home room teachers) and subject teachers. Trainees react positively to ECM but reveal uncertainty about its precise meaning and about the roles they would need to adopt as teachers. We suggest that it is problematic for governments to expect teacher education communities to assist with the implementation of policies that have been inadequately characterised. We make recommendations about the role of initial teacher education in the further development of ECM.     

每个孩子都重要:英国全面关注处境不利儿童的健康发展

以"全纳教育"促进"全纳社会"的发展是布莱尔政府"第三条道路"的重要内容之一,为此,工党政府制订了一系列旨在改善处境不利儿童状况的教育计划,其中2003年颁发的绿皮书"每个孩子都重要:为了孩子的变化"将这些计划进一步系统化和合法化,它提出了儿童发展的五项结果目标,提出了对全社会儿童服务体系的整合.本文将对上述内容作简要介绍 和评论,以期引起国内同行对有关弱势群体教育问题的关注.     

Lift Every Voice and Sing: Faculty of Color Face the Challenges of the Tenure Track

This article highlights some of the obstacles facing tenure-track faculty of color in academia. Through the perspective of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and by using a counterstories method, four faculty of color share their experiences as they explore diversity issues through engaging in a 1-year self-study. Findings of this qualitative study provide important insights from the perspectives of faculty of color to address ways in which to identify supports that lever barriers during the tenure process.     

'Do You Know Harry Potter? Well, He is an Orphan': Every Bereaved Child Matters

The needs of children who are experiencing loss in all its many guises including separation through divorce, death, war, to name but a few, are many and varied. Presenting issues may include emotional disturbance. In addition, many bereaved children have to cope with a vulnerability to physical illness. In some schools, children are offered counselling or specialist emotional and therapeutic support at times of bereavement. In this article, the author uses case-study examples and autobiographical material, to suggest that child-chosen play, art and children's literature can provide a vehicle for bereavement management and eventual resolution. The author argues that professionals involved in the care and education of children can work together to benefit grieving children.     

‘Waiting on the World to Change’: Advocacy versus Apathy and Focusing on What Really Matters

ABSTRACT

The author discusses the big picture of higher education, which pertains to the perpetuation of decreasing civil discourse and increasing challenges in higher education. These may be attributed to several factors including decreased funding, increased mental health crises, heavier workloads, and systemic inequities. Even though major initiatives across most campuses include diversity, inclusivity, civility, and internationalization, significant inequalities still exist. Toxic leaders supported by conducive environments and supportive followers may be at least partially responsible. Solutions are presented that may assist in stopping the perpetuation of inequitable, overtaxed systems, in order to improve the lives of individuals in society as a whole while making higher education truly diverse, inclusive, innovative, ethical, and impactful.     

Sexualities Equality in Schools: Why Every Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) Child Matters

In an increasingly complex global society, schools frequently have to re-examine their understanding of the social and cultural dimensions that constitute 'community'. One such dimension is the sexual orientation of individuals who make up this group. Historically, this has been a difficult task, given the tension that exists between sexuality and education and the heteronormative practices within schools. Consequently, individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT), are thought to be LGBT or who are connected with the LGBT community, have frequently found themselves in a marginalized and vulnerable position. In the case of young people, the consequences of this include lowered self-esteem, absenteeism, underachievement and, in some cases, suicide. Given the mantra that Every Child Matters , schools now have a strategic opportunity to formulate new responses in supporting this group. A key question in this article relates to the ways in which the dimensions of strategy can be integrated into 'joined-up', effective action.     

The Politics of Physical Education

This paper, which was given as the Dudley Allen Sargent lecture at the 2012 conference of the National Association for Kinesiology and Physical Education in Higher Education, discusses the politics of physical education. It examines how both national politics and local/campus politics affect the discipline. Drawing from the history of national leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties and from the autobiography of Dudley Sargent, it demonstrates the important role that politics plays in the lives of Kinesiology and Physical Education professionals. The article discusses political perception, public relations, conflicting political interests, the political importance of program success, and provides recommendations for political survival in the university culture.