Metabolic impact of a soccer match on female players

The aim of this study was to examine the metabolic effect of a female soccer match in elite and sub-elite teams. Blood samples were taken (24 h before, immediately after and 18 h after official soccer matches) to determine haematological, electrolytic and hormonal variables, as well as the levels of cell damage and oxidative stress in 14 elite and 14 sub-elite players. Our results show increases in white blood cell count (P < 0.001) and the percentage of neutrophils (P < 0.001), and decreases in the percentage of lymphocytes (P < 0.05), eosinophils (P < 0.001), monocytes (P < 0.001) and basophils (P < 0.05) immediately post-match. Increases were also found in lactate dehydrogenase activity (P < 0.001), uric acid (P < 0.001), albumin (P < 0.001), total antioxidant status (P < 0.001) and free testosterone levels (P < 0.01). Creatine kinase activity significantly increased 18 h post-match (P < 0.01) and the concentrations of several ions, glucose and proteins were found to be altered immediately post-match. Overall, our results show that playing a soccer match exerts specific metabolic effects on female players, resulting in muscle damage, oxidative stress and biochemical and hormonal variations. On the basis of some interesting correlations, we also suggest that exercise-induced cell breakdown may enhance antioxidant capacity of the soccer players.     

Representation and conflict of interest among students on higher education governing boards

Student participation in higher education governance is commonplace in many countries around the globe. This participation can take many forms, but one prevalent form is through the inclusion of students as members of institutional governing boards, commonly called student trustees. This practice is not without critique with governance scholars often cautioning against student board membership. They cite the potential for student members to engage in representative behaviour, which may lead them to focus primarily on student issues or cast votes which may be in the best interest of themselves or their fellow students as the primary objection to student board members. This study of student trustees in the United States examines the extent to which these individuals engage in such behaviours, examining interactions between student board members and students at their institutions for signs of whether these oft states concerns have a basis in practice.     

Servant Leadership in Sport for Development and Peace: A Way Forward

The field of sport for development and peace (SDP) has been growing exponentially, with many organizations and academics embracing the possible contribution that sport can make to development. To date, leadership in sport for development and peace has not been conceptualized. Perhaps due to the missions of sport for development and peace organizations, many of which focus on helping marginalized individuals, the leadership style needed to effectively guide a sport for development and peace organization may be different than that which is needed to lead other types of sport organizations. In this article, we advance that servant leadership, which is predicated on follower care and development, can be a highly effective leadership style in sport for development and peace. Through a series of propositions, we opine that servant leaders in sport for development and peace will empower followers, lead to more sustainable and effective organizations and participant outcomes, facilitate psychological needs satisfaction, and diffuse issues of power and control. Future research directions stimulated by the propositions are also discussed.     

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS’ FAMILY–SCHOOL PARTNERING EXPERIENCES WITH LATINOS

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify the beliefs, perceptions, and actions of school psychologists toward family–school partnering (FSP) with Latino families in the public school system. Existing research in this area is extremely limited; therefore, the present study has significant implications for pre‐ and in‐service training to achieve effective FSP with Latino families. Five school psychologists working in school districts with greater than 40% Latino student enrollment participated in this study. Five major themes emerged from data analysis: Attitudes toward FSP, Knowledge and Skills Needed, Expectations for Engagement, Perceived Barriers to FSP, and Engagement Activities. The results of this study will help researchers and educators develop an awareness of the challenges school psychologists face and the actions they take to enhance relationships with Latino families.     

Political socialization in the family and young people's educational achievement and ambition

Using data from a large‐scale survey of Norwegian youth, the study examines the relationships that the performance in key academic subjects and aiming for higher education have with political socialization at home. The more often adolescents aged 13–16 talk with parents about politics and social issues, the better their performance is and the more often they aim for higher education. These relationships survive controls for, inter alia, parental level of education and other socio‐economic status indicators. The findings fit longstanding ideals in the philosophy of education. It is argued that a widened concept of ‘home background’ is needed in the sociology of education.     

Critical reading comprehension in an era of accountability

This paper argues for the need for critical reading comprehension in an era of accountability that often promotes reading comprehension as readily assessable through students answering multiple choice questions of unseen texts. Based upon a 1 year study investigating literacy in Years 4–9 the ways strong-performing primary schools develop serious and in-depth reading for learning are explored. School and teacher features which allow for the development of sophisticated pedagogical repertoires and space for critical reading comprehension, without losing the complexity of curriculum offerings, are outlined. How one experienced middle primary teacher operates strategically, ethically and critically in supporting her ESL students to learn to read is illustrated. The teacher’s work is situated within the complex accountability demands faced by classroom teachers. This was accomplished by a teacher whose pedagogical repertoire has been assembled across a career teaching in low-SES high ESL communities in a school with a balanced literacy program and high level of collegial support. Risks for schools and teachers whose circumstances work against their capacities for prioritisation and strategic decision-making are identified and discussed.     

SPSS vs. excel: Computing software,criminal justice students,and statistics

This study examines the impact of two different types of statistical software on student knowledge and perceptions of statistics. Students enrolled in a summer session introductory statistics class were randomly assigned to either Excel or SPSS. Weekly lab sessions were conducted providing instruction in statistical calculations using Excel and SPSS. The groups were then compared on two levels of knowledge: conceptual and computational. An additional comparison was made in relation to students' perceptions of their understanding of statistics. Results showed Excel students scored higher on both measures of knowledge and had higher ratings of statistical understanding compared to SPSS students.     

BOOK REVIEWS

The courts traditionally have supported the belief that the public college campus is a public forum for the open exchange of ideas. Therefore, public colleges and universities should not be subject to the preferences of groups that would seek to limit expression they may find objectionable. Yet, the continuing challenges to constitutionally protected free speech on college campuses suggest that some institutions could be persuaded to exercise illegal censorship. If administrators and faculty are to protect the foundation of the public forum in higher education and avoid potential litigation, they would be wise to exercise caution when censorship is a possibility. On the public campus, students, faculty, and administrators have the right to speak and to hear a wide range of opinions, even those that may be unpopular. Institutions may only determine the time, place, and manner of these expressions. An earlier version of this article was presented at the Fourth Annual Texas Higher Education Law Conference at the University of North Texas in Denton.     

Professional Development in 'Healthy' vs. 'Unhealthy' Districts: Top 10 characteristics based on research

Professional development is a requirement of every reform effort. Most states in the USA mandate a certain number of days in the school calendar to be allocated for professional development. Other nations often fund professional development for teachers to accompany an initiative to improve student performance. Although assumptions about why and how professional development should be conducted are shared, empirical evidence is relatively slim. Recent research generally focuses on the role of professional development in school reform. This study investigates the characteristics of involvement in professional development at the level of the district-the umbrella organisation for a geographic collection of schools. As part of a larger study, this research examines the professional development activities in school districts in relationship to overall district health. How do healthy and unhealthy districts differ in their approaches to professional development? What is the relationship between district health and student achievement? While confirming some of the assumptions about what makes effective professional development, this study provides research-based evidence for what districts can do to ensure district-wide impact and to bring about and sustain change. Furthermore, it illustrates the close association of district health and student achievement.