Challenging neo-liberalism,building democracy: creating the Citizen School in Porto Alegre,Brazil

In this article, we situate the processes of educational policy and reform into their larger socio-political context. We describe the ways in which a set of policies has had what seem to be extensive and long lasting effects because the policies are coherently linked to larger dynamics of social transformation and to a coherent strategy that aims to change the mechanisms of the state and the rules of participation in the formation of state policies. We describe and analyse the policies of the ‘Popular Administration’ in Porto Alegre, Brazil. We specifically focus on the ‘Citizen School’ and on proposals that are explicitly designed to radically change both the municipal schools and the relationship between communities, the state and education. This set of policies and the accompanying processes of implementation are constitutive parts of a clear and explicit project aimed at constructing not only a better school for the excluded, but also a larger project of radical democracy. The reforms being built in Porto Alegre are still in formation, but we argue that they have crucial implications for how we might think about the politics of education policy and its dialectical role in social transformation.     

Three models,one goal: Assessing financial vulnerability in New Zealand amateur sports clubs

Financial vulnerability is a critical issue for nonprofit sports clubs due to clubs’ increasing costs and impediments to generating sufficient income. The first objective of this study is to derive a conceptual understanding of financial vulnerability for sports clubs by assessing three financial vulnerability models, two of which have previously been applied in the nonprofit sector generally. Two models are based on revenue patterns and expenditure, and the third is based on movements in Net Assets over four years. A second objective is to identify determinants of financial vulnerability within amateur sports clubs, focusing specifically on golf and football.The data to test these models were derived from the financial reports of 227 amateur sports clubs in New Zealand (98 football and 129 golf clubs). Each of the three models results in different predictive variables and has different explanatory strengths. For example, football clubs that were financially vulnerable under Model 1: Program Expenditure had declining revenues from members and trading, as well as high administration costs. Conversely, declining reserves are predictive in financially vulnerable golf clubs using Model 2: Net Assets. Model 3: Net Earnings was generalizable to both football and golf clubs. The explanatory variables were different between these sports, due to their different asset base and propensity to employ paid staff. The common variables those with oversight responsibilities should monitor against financial vulnerability are: an undue reliance on external, rather than member-based revenue, increasing debt, and excessive expenditure. Further research could extend this model to other sports and other jurisdictions.     

Him Too? Cristiano Ronaldo and the News Coverage of a Rape Case Allegation

ABSTRACT

This paper uses critical thematic analysis to explore the news media coverage of a rape allegation case against the football player Cristiano Ronaldo. After providing the context of the case, we examine the literature on how rape cases are represented by the news media. We then proceed to a critical thematic analysis of a purposive sample of Portuguese national newspapers, first identifying ten sub-themes in a total of 140 news stories and opinion columns and then considering the patterns of three critical themes that tended to dismiss the allegations, highlight the seriousness of the allegations and neutralize sexual victimization. Each of these considers prevailing ideologies, news values and journalistic practices.     

Quasi-stiffness of the knee joint in flexion and extension during the golf swing

Biomechanical understanding of the knee joint during a golf swing is essential to improve performance and prevent injury. In this study, we quantified the flexion/extension angle and moment as the primary knee movement, and evaluated quasi-stiffness represented by moment–angle coupling in the knee joint. Eighteen skilled and 23 unskilled golfers participated in this study. Six infrared cameras and two force platforms were used to record a swing motion. The anatomical angle and moment were calculated from kinematic and kinetic models, and quasi-stiffness of the knee joint was determined as an instantaneous slope of moment–angle curves. The lead knee of the skilled group had decreased resistance duration compared with the unskilled group (P < 0.05), and the resistance duration of the lead knee was lower than that of the trail knee in the skilled group (P < 0.01). The lead knee of the skilled golfers had greater flexible excursion duration than the trail knee of the skilled golfers, and of both the lead and trail knees of the unskilled golfers. These results provide critical information for preventing knee injuries during a golf swing and developing rehabilitation strategies following surgery.     

A Survey of School/College Partnerships for Minority and Disadvantaged Students

This study focuses on comprehensive partnerships between K–12 schools and postsecondary institutions which were created to improve the precollege academic preparation, college enrollment, and postsecondary success of minority and disadvantaged students. The study identified those partnerships that had been in existence in the United States for more than five years and surveyed them utilizing a 12-item questionnaire designed to determine the following: (1) structural characteristics; (2) funding; (3) success in achieving their goals and objectives; and (4) data collected to measure success.During the course of study, key informants from each partnership were surveyed. Partnership research has been scant, in part due to the fact that school-college partnerships of this type are a fairly new development in education. The results of the surveys have contributed new information to the field on the characteristics of partnerships. Findings also indicated that a majority of these partnerships incorporated some of the important characteristics for success recommended in the available literature. The partnerships consider themselves to be at least somewhat successful in achieving their goals of improving high school preparation and college enrollments for minority and disadvantaged students. They are, however, less informed about the success of their participants in college, especially college retention and graduation. They are also less informed about the availability of financial resources for their college aspirants and appear only marginally committed to creating institutional change.