Behavioristic aspects of speech defects

Concepts drawn from an organismic philosophy can provide an integrative framework for bridging certain differences between communication as science and rhetoric as art. Key concepts such as process, pattern, empathy and paradox emerge as methods of observation in both art and science, rhetoric and communication.     

'No One's Told Me to F**k Off!': Four Years Working with Disaffected Year 11 Pupils (without a PRU)

Since 1994, Merton LEA has developed a distinctive approach to providing education for disaffected pupils in Year 11. The process involved closing the local off-site unit and integrating resources into the authority's behaviour support service. This article describes the development of what is now called the Year 11 Programme. The discussion focuses on some of the positive outcomes for students and highlights problems associated with the approach. It also provides a commentary on the work in a changing national context.     

Visual Sequential Memory and Spelling Ability

Although good visual memory is frequently cited as an essential requirement for competent spelling, there is little empirical evidence to support this. In this paper visual sequential memory was studied in two separate controlled experiments which compared the test performances of 13‐year‐old poor spellers and controls. Test materials were carefully designed to obtain a measure of visual memory with minimal interference from verbal coding. With the variable of IQ controlled for, visual memory did not appear to differentiate between the groups unless mediated by verbal coding.     

Study Abroad and Developing Reflective Research Practice Through Blogs: A Preliminary Study from the United Kingdom

Blogs are seen as an important strand of social networking and a significant way of disseminating research ideas and sharing knowledge and perceptions with new audiences via digital platforms. The use of blogs within off-campus activities, such as study abroad field visits, have the potential to enhance students’ social media skills and confidence about becoming active researchers in public through communicating field research experiences and reflections on what they see, learn, hear, and do. Via a semi-structured questionnaire administered to UK-based university students participating in a recent Criminology program field visit to Slovenia in Europe, we assess the extent to which blogging facilitates student reflective practice on their lived experiences of undertaking research in culturally unfamiliar environments. We show that blogging combined with the whole experience of international fieldwork has a “learning gain” for students exemplified through a willingness to engage in reflective practice, self-awareness, and transferable skills.     

Understanding emancipatory forms of educational leadership through schooling justice work: an action research study into second chance schooling development

Concerned about the phenomena of early school leaving in our region, we are two teachers who initiated and developed a new school from the ‘ground up’ to re-engage young people disenfranchised with schooling back into formalised learning. Using critical action research methodology over a three and a half year developmental period, this endeavour involved us in exercising particular dimensions of leadership to engineer a sustainable second chance school. Twelve years after its development, the school continues with enrolments of over 100 senior secondary students in recent years. The schooling justice work we pursued during the developmental period drew us into ‘emancipatory’ leadership work that called us to be; (1) teacher activists embracing social entrepreneurial strategies imbued with (2) relational sensibilities, and (3) architects of socially just school design informed by (4) critical praxis within a university led professional learning community. The ‘second chance school’ has re-engaged over 1000 students back into formalised learning since its inception and has offered pathways into post-school tertiary study, apprenticeships and training for the majority of these students.     

Being well in the world: an alternative discourse to mental health and well-being

The author provides a critique of the current campaign promoting well-being and mental health in UK schools. The paper focuses on the unintended consequences of aligning with a medical model of understanding mental health which include concerns about ignoring ecological factors and, to some extent the social construction of individual mental health. The author considers the relevance of Arendt's notion of being at home in the world, (Arendt, 1994), as understood in the context of Biesta's educational commentary, (Biesta, 2017). Finally, the author argues that the current frame of reference for mental health intervention is insufficient in meeting the challenges facing the next generation of students.     

Sustaining Secondary School Visions Over Time: Resistance, Resilience and Educational Reform

This article focuses upon the sustainability of secondary school visions during a period of increasingly complex economic, social, demographic, and accountability driven change (1970–1990). Much of the classic change literature of this period highlights the failure of teachers to implement reform, and implicitly leans towards overcoming their resistance with short-term solutions so that external mandates can be institutionalized more effectively. Longitudinal studies are rarely attempted that consider the cumulative impact of both internal and external “change forces” upon teachers, or that identify the conditions necessary to ensure the sustainability of a schools vision “over time”. Viewed through the lens of resiliency, this article explores data from two high schools that participated in the Change Over Time Study (Spencer Foundation Grant number 199800214). Data suggest that not only can teacher resistance to innovation make good sense, but also, under certain conditions rarely supported by standardized reform, it can evoke a resilient, even activist, self-renewing response to change otherwise perceived to be disruptive or harmful to their school’s founding vision.     

Essay writing in biology: An example of effective student learning?

The views of first-year biology students (N=337) on an essay writing assignment were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. The students were asked to reflect on the strategies they employed, the number and type of resources used, their areas of difficulty and to evaluate their own performance. The data were used to elucidate possible areas of discrepancy between the approach taken by the students and that suggested by the Biology Department via information in student manuals and evaluation criteria. The data were also compared to similar studies on student writing previously reported for students of psychology and history. Finally a series of recommendations is made to help staff to allow their students to develop improved writing strategies, minimise the possible difficulties encountered and allow the writing exercise to fulfil its desired outcome, that of being an integral part of the process of learning.     

The relationship of exposure to childhood sexual abuse to other forms of abuse,neglect, and household dysfunction during childhood

OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the relationship of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to nine other categories of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including childhood abuse, neglect, and multiple types of household dysfunction. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study data were collected from 17,337 adult health plan members who responded to a survey questionnaire. Regression models adjusted for age, race, and education were used to estimate the strength of the association of CSA to each of the other nine ACEs and a graded relationship between measures of the severity of CSA and the number of other ACEs (ACE score). RESULTS: CSA was reported by 25% of women and 16% of men. In comparison with persons who were not exposed to CSA, the likelihood of experiencing each category of ACE increased 2- to 3.4-fold for women and 1.6- to 2.5-fold for men (p < 0.05). The adjusted mean ACE score showed a significant positive graded relationship to the severity, duration, and frequency of CSA and an inverse relationship to age at first occurrence of CSA (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CSA is strongly associated with experiencing multiple other forms of ACEs. The strength of this association appears to increase as the measures of severity of the CSA increases. The understanding of the interrelatedness of CSA with multiple ACEs should be considered in the design of studies, treatment, and programs to prevent CSA as well as other forms of ACEs.     

The impact of making-weight on cognitive performance in apprentice jockeys

Jockeys regularly engage in rapid weight-loss practices in preparation for competition. These practices are thought to impair cognitive function, although the evidence in support of this theory remains inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of making-weight on cognitive function in apprentice jockeys in a simulated and competitive environment. Apprentice jockeys (n = 12) reduced their body mass by 4% in 48 h in a simulated environment using weight-loss methods typically adopted in preparation for racing. Simple and choice reaction time, attention, learning and memory were assessed before and after the weight loss. A further 10 apprentice jockeys performed the cognitive function assessment in a competitive racing environment at both a self-reported “normal” and “light” body mass. Hydration status and body mass were assessed in all trials. In the simulated environment, body mass was reduced by 4.2 ± 0.3%, yet no change in cognitive function was observed. Cognitive function also remained unchanged in the competitive environment after a body mass loss of 5.7 ± 1.9%. Typical reductions in body mass in preparation for racing have no effect on cognitive function in apprentice jockeys in a simulated and competitive environment. Further research is required to investigate the physiological mechanisms preventing the adverse effects of making-weight on cognitive function in jockeys.