Implementing the Contract: the technical and vocational education initiative

Participating schools have a contractual responsibility to recruit a ‘balanced intake’ of students to TVEI courses. However, in many schools it is form teachers who have the eventual job of promoting TVEI to both sexes ‘across the ability range’.

What this recruitment structure does not allow for is that form teachers may be affected by a number of ‘sources of influence’, the effects of which do not coincide with this objective.

The aim of this paper is to build up a picture of the school as an ‘open ended’ interrelating totality, within which form teachers confront the demand for a ‘balanced intake’ alongside a number of other, potentially conflicting factors.     

Student Perceptions of Chemistry Laboratory Learning Environments, Student–Teacher Interactions and Attitudes in Secondary School Gifted Education Classes in Singapore

This study investigated the chemistry laboratory classroom environment, teacher–student interactions and student attitudes towards chemistry among 497 gifted and non-gifted secondary-school students in Singapore. The data were collected using the 35-item Chemistry Laboratory Environment Inventory (CLEI), the 48-item Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) and the 30-item Questionnaire on Chemistry-Related Attitudes (QOCRA). Results supported the validity and reliability of the CLEI and QTI for this sample. Stream (gifted versus non-gifted) and gender differences were found in actual and preferred chemistry laboratory classroom environments and teacher–student interactions. Some statistically significant associations of modest magnitude were found between students' attitudes towards chemistry and both the laboratory classroom environment and the interpersonal behaviour of chemistry teachers. Suggestions for improving chemistry laboratory classroom environments and the teacher–student interactions for gifted students are provided.     

宋代致仕官员恋栈现象及其原因探析

官员退休通称致仕等,是中国古代封建王朝的重要议题。经过各个时期的不断调整,宋朝致仕制度也逐渐臻于完善。有宋一代,虽则出现了以王彦超为代表的一批知止而退的致仕官员,但年及而愿退者依然较少,官员恋栈现象仍然时有发生。导致官员恋栈的原因是多方面的,就主观层面而言,部分及年应退官员,或基于生计考虑,或缘于贪恋权财,而故作不知退。就客观层面而言,宋朝致仕标准"朝令夕改",具有极强的随意性特点,既褒奖提前退休,又额外奖励按时致仕,亦或惩处或者认可到时不退者,使得官员面对如此繁杂的情况,属实不知该退还是不该退,有些无所适从。最终他们在善变的致仕制度中徘徊前进,不知所措。     

Old Enemies？

本专栏由英国大使馆文化处供稿,旨在让读者从中学习地道英文,体悟英文百味。本期介绍了英国的四个组成部分——英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰之间的“恩怨”与“宿仇”。由于英格兰地域广,政治、经济实力强,不了解英国的人通常误把英格兰当英国。但是,在体育上,其他几个“兄弟”可是要扳回一城的……     

Action groups as a participative strategy for leading whole-school health promotion: Results on implementation from the INCLUSIVE trial in English secondary schools

Education policy increasingly promotes action groups as a key strategy for student and/or staff participation in school improvement and whole-school health promotion. Such groups can coordinate multi-component interventions, increase participation and engagement, and enable local adaptations, but few process evaluations have assessed this. We evaluated fidelity, feasibility and acceptability of action groups as part of a trial of a whole-school intervention to reduce bullying and aggression and promote health in English secondary schools, which reported multiple health and educational impacts. Action groups involved students and staff, supported by external facilitators, and drew on data on student needs. They aimed to: coordinate implementation of restorative practices and a social and emotional competencies curriculum; review policies and rules; and enact local decisions to modify school environments. Our process evaluation used interviews, focus groups, observations and questionnaires to assess action groups’ fidelity, role in coordination, role in local adaptation, support from external facilitators and data on student needs, and acceptability in engaging members. Fidelity was high in the first two years but lower in the third year when external facilitators withdrew. Student needs data were perceived as useful, but views on external facilitators were mixed. Groups successfully reviewed policies and rules, planned activities and coordinated restorative practices, but were less successful in implementing the curriculum. Success was facilitated by the involvement of school leaders. Members reported high satisfaction and empowerment. Action groups are a promising strategy for leading whole-school health promotion. Implementation is supported by external facilitation, local data and involvement of senior managers.     

高等学校“运动项目游戏化”研究

在现代教学中,体育课程教学发生了深刻的变化。许多高等院校将"运动项目游戏化"植入于体育教学中,打破了传统体育课程教学的沉闷局面,激发了学生们体育学习的兴趣,提高他们的主动性与积极性。文章阐述了运动项目游戏化涵义,探讨了高等学校如何进行"运动项目游戏化",分析了"运动项目游戏化"在教学中的作用,有利于提高体育教学的质量,培养学生的思考与创新能力。     

论随意殴打中未致人死亡共犯的刑事责任

在二人以上随意殴打他人并致人重伤、死亡的案件中,经常出现重伤、死亡的结果仅仅为其中某一个或某几个犯罪行为人所为的现象。对实施致人重伤、死亡行为的犯罪行为人,可以依想象竞合犯理论以故意伤害罪或故意杀人罪定罪处罚。对未实施致人重伤、死亡行为的犯罪行为人,应根据各犯罪行为人有无犯意联络,是否形成I临时共同故意、故意内容是否包含伤害、杀人,各犯罪人的行为与重伤、死亡后果之间是否存在相当的因果关系,或以故意伤害或者故意杀人罪共犯定罪处罚,或以寻衅滋事罪处断。     

Large-scale multiferroic complex oxide epitaxy with magnetically switched polarization enabled by solution processing

Complex oxides with tunable structures have many fascinating properties, though high-quality complex oxide epitaxy with precisely controlled composition is still out of reach. Here we have successfully developed solution-based single-crystalline epitaxy for multiferroic (1-x)BiTi_(1-y)/2Fe_yMg_(1-y)/2O₃–(x)CaTiO₃ (BTFM–CTO) solid solution in large area, confirming its ferroelectricity at the atomic scale with strong spontaneous polarization. Careful compositional tuning leads to a bulk magnetization of 0.07 ± 0.035 μ_B/Fe at room temperature, enabling magnetically induced polarization switching exhibiting a large magnetoelectric coefficient of 2.7–3.0 × 10⁻⁷ s/m. This work demonstrates the great potential of solution processing in large-scale complex oxide epitaxy and establishes novel room-temperature magnetoelectric coupling in epitaxial BTFM–CTO film, making it possible to explore a much wider space of composition, phase, and structure that can be easily scaled up for industrial applications.