School Principal Speech about Fiscal Mismanagement

A review of two recent federal court cases concerning school principals who experienced adverse job actions after they engaged in speech about fiscal misconduct by other employees indicates that the courts found that the princpal's speech was made as part of his or her job duties and was not protected by the First Amendment.     

Teachers as Leaders

Graphic novels offer an exciting new medium across the curriculum, but classroom research must be done. Anecdotal evidence is a start, but reform requires thoughtful study. Teachers are in the best place to do this research, as they have ready access, currency, and credibility. Teacher research on graphic novels, indeed all new media, is also needed for teacher professionalism in the Knowledge Society.     

School leaders’ perceptions on reading,writing and mathematics in innovative learning environments

ABSTRACT

In New Zealand, school buildings are being remodelled to accommodate several teachers and a large number of learners in one flexible learning space. School leaders’ perspectives were sought on what is happening in the teaching of reading, writing and mathematics. Interviews of the principal and deputy principal at a case study were conducted, and an online survey was used to target views of school leaders across New Zealand: completed by 115 principals and 56 deputy principals. The research found positive responses to the implementation of flexible learning spaces and the impact on the teaching of these three core curriculum areas. The findings suggest that given appropriate experience of such spaces, New Zealand principals (school leaders) seem to have the attitudes and understanding to support adoption of Innovative Learning Environments and recognise their potential benefits. However, the quality of teaching was key no matter which learning space was considered. Although Innovative Learning Environments, along with the cooperation between teachers that such spaces require, were seen as beneficial to learning, successful implementation will also require those leading the changes to place the learner as the focus of change, particularly for the substantive percentage of students who are underachieving in reading, writing and mathematics.     

Contemporary approaches to learning science: technologically-mediated practical work

This paper describes the current state of science education in Arab states and anticipates some of the challenges faced by those states as they reform their science education. After discussing problems of illiteracy, access and quality we provide contextual information about the structure of the educational systems and describe recent efforts to reform them. We focus on issues pertaining to science curriculum and textbooks, language, religion, student learning in science, science teacher education and science education research and summarise the challenges and opportunities for research faced in each area. We conclude the paper by proposing a set of policy and research recommendations that could aid in the development of lasting solutions for recurring problems.     

Beginning teachers becoming professionals through action research

This article describes the conduct of and acquired understandings from a study designed to promote the professional growth of a group of beginning primary school teachers through participatory action research. The beginning teachers collaborated with university academic staff during the design and conduct of the study. A key component of the study was the formation of action research cells of participating teachers with each group focusing on particular aspects of teaching, for example, assessment, catering for gifted and talented students, and inclusivity in the classroom teaching programme. The overall findings from the study, from the view of the university researchers, are presented and reflected upon in this article. The implications of using action research for the professional growth of beginning teachers are also discussed.     

A Womb With a Political View: Barbara Park’s MA! There’s Nothing to Do Here!, Prenatal Parenting, and the Battle over Personhood

This essay makes the case that Barbara Park’s picture book MA! There’s Nothing to Do Here!: A Word from Your Baby-in-Waiting (2008) adds another equal-parts absurdist and alarming item to the ever-growing responsibilities of expecting mothers: ensuring that their fetus is entertained. The messages that Park’s narrative sends about fetal needs, however, have implications that extend beyond individual mothers; they also encompass larger societal issues concerning the origins of human life, the embryonic capacity for discomfort, and the existence of “fetal children.” Given the way in which MA! There’s Nothing to Do Here! ascribes thoughts and emotions to an unborn baby, the narrative engages with current highly-politicized questions about the rights of the unborn and the debate over personhood. The fetus in Park’s text may be ostensibly complaining about being bored in the womb, but he is making a far more powerful, if tacit, argument for life beginning before birth.     

The Impact of a Professional Development Program on Teachers' Understandings about Watersheds,Water Quality,and Stream Monitoring

Abstract

Professional development programs should provide teachers with experiences that develop their knowledge and skills to integrate environmental field studies into their school curriculum. This article reports on a professional development model that engaged teachers in designing and conducting local environmental science research projects. An overview of the professional development model is provided and evaluation data are reported, detailing the impact of the professional development model on teachers' understandings about watersheds, water quality, and stream monitoring.     

假硬盘现身——希捷500GB假硬盘事件调查

“最近大家听说了吗？市场上出现了一种假的希捷硬盘。”“假硬盘？不可能吧,是不是OEM版的？”“不像,这次没有CEM标识了,要不看看图？”……QQ群里的对话引起了笔者注意,赶紧联系了一下做电脑兼容机生意的朋友确认此事,并对此事展开调查。     

In-situ production of ozone and ultraviolet light using a barrier discharge reactor for wastewater treatment

A dielectric barrier discharge （DBD） reactor consisting of water-filled dielectric tube electrodes was used for the treatment ofwastewater. The inner dielectric tube, which acted as the discharging electrode, was filled with an aqueous electrolyte solution. The outer dielectric tube, which served as the other electrode, was in contact with the wastewater, which was grounded. The present reactor system was energy-efficient for the production of ozone, not only because the perfect contact between the aqueous electrode and the dielectric surface minimized the loss of the electrical energy, but also because the DBD reactor was cooled by the wastewater. In addition, the ultraviolet （UV） light produced in the DBD reactor was able to assist in the wastewater treatment since the quartz tube used as the dielectric material was UV-transparent. The performance of the present DBD system was evaluated using a synthetic wastewater formed from distilled water and an azo dye, amaranth. The experimental parameters were the concentration of the electrolyte in the aqueous electrode, the discharge power, the initial pH of the wastewater and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide added to the wastewater. The wastewater treatment system was found to be effective for achieving decomposition of the dye.