Specialist Teachers for Pupils with Learning Difficulties? A Survey of Headteachers in Schools and Units

Georgina Julian, a third year undergraduate, and Jean Ware, a lecturer in the Psychology of Education and Special Educational Needs, at the University of Wales, Cardiff, report on research into the current position on the relevant qualifications of teachers, and intending teachers, in schools and units for pupils with moderate to profound learning difficulties. They suggest that there has been little consistent progress in the preparation of teachers for this work since the ACSET (Advisory Committee on the Supply and Education of Teachers) Report in 1984.     

Statistics in the speed cameras debate

This article illustrates how statistical arguments can be used to influence public policy . . . for better or for worse.     

Tales of a Texas Cynic: Theodore O. Windt Remembered

In memory of Professor Ted Windt, this essay considers his significant contributions to rhetorical scholarship and pedagogy. It examines his unique contributions to our understandings of American presidential and protest rhetoric of the late 20th century, highlighting his application of Greek cynicism as explanatory schema for American protest rhetoric and then recounting Windt's framework for analyzing “crisis” rhetoric as appropriated by recent American presidents to advance their agendas. The essay then considers Windt's pedagogical perspectives and argues that Windt's teaching itself was acclaimed because it was rooted in the rhetorical and oratorical excellence. In conclusion, it is argued that Ted Windt was a unique and important rhetorical scholar and critic whose life and work provide lasting scholarly contributions and a robust model for achieving excellence in the college classroom.     

How can I develop a theory of critical self‐reflection?

Although much of the literature on educational action research is rich in recommendations to self‐reflect, it is impoverished in examples of self‐reflective practice. This constitutes a theory‐practice gap; for how is it possible to recommend a particular form of practicewithout living up to that recommendation, and still claim that the practice has integrity? Such a contradiction is particularly serious when the issue is self‐reflection, since self‐reflection is put forward as the main constituent of moral practice, and its denial has deep implications for the practitioner's own moral standing.

In this paper I ask why there is such slippage between the theory and practice of self‐reflection? Iassume that many people either do not perceive such slippage,or choose to ignore it. Either way, this is a serious matter, and involves issues of legitimation—for by what right do we consider ourselves to be exempt from engaging in those self‐same practices that we require of others?

I challenge the separatist view that it is acceptable for some to say what others must do, without first doing it themselves. I apply the same critique to myself, and I aim to show the process of my own self‐reflection by critically analysing what I am doing as I do it. This, I hope, sets the scene for an emergent theory of critical self‐reflection.     

Topic: The morale of teachers in a world at war

Science Related to Life: Book Two, Heat and Health. By Reh. American Book Co., New York, 1932. Pp. 192.

Embryology. By Mary T. Haeman. Philadelphia: Lea &; Febiger, 1932. Pp. 2–476.

Educational Biology. By William H. Atwood and Elwood D. Heiss. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son and Company, 1933. Pp. xiii + 475.

Problems in Biology. By George W. Hunter. New York: American Book Company, 1931. Pp. v + 706.

Practical Bacteriology. By T. J. Mackie and J. E. McCartney. New York: William Wood and Company, 1931. Pp. xv + 421.

The Collection and Preservation of Animal Forms. By Morris M. Wells. Chicago: General Biological Supply House, 1932. Pp. 72.

A Textbook of Histology. By J. Lewis Bremer. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston's Son &; Co., Inc. Pp. 568.

Elementary Bacteriology. By Joseph E. Graves and Ethelyn O. Graves. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1932. Pp. 5–535.

Directing Language Power in the Elementary School Child. By Caroline J. Trommer and Teresa A. Regak. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1933. Pp. xii + 497.

Adventures, Book I; Trail Fires, Book II; Eastward Ho! Book III; Higher Levels, Book IV. By Grace Walker, Neli. F. Bartels and Mary E. Marye. (A series of work‐books) New York: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1932.

Effective Instructional Leadership. By a Committee, Rudolph D. Lindquist, Chairman. New York: Columbia University, 1933. Pp. ix + 183.

On Teaching English. By Howard Francis Seely. New York: American Book Company, 1933. Pp. xix + 391.

My Life Book. By Neal Stoddard. Cincinnati: American Book Company, 1933. Pp. vi + 106.

Fundamentals of Bookkeeping and Business. By Charles E. Bowman and Atlee L. Percy. Cincinnati: American Book Company, 1933. Pp. viii + 316.

The New First Course in Home Making. By Maude Richman Calvert and Anne E. Richardson. Atlanta: Smith, Hammond and Company, 1932. Pp. xiii + 507.

The Role of the Teacher in Personnel Work. By Ruth StranG. New York: Columbia University, 1932. Pp. xv + 332.

An Orientation Course in Education. By Joseph S. Butterweck and J. Conrad Seegers. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1933. Pp. vi + 392.

Education and Certification of Elementary Teachers. Frank P. Bachman. Field Study No. 5 of the Division of Surveys and Field Studies, Peabody College.

Modern School Administration—Its Problems and Progress. By John C. Almack. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1933. Pp. viii + 382.

The Evolving Common School. By Henry C. Morrison. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1933. Pp. 62.

State Scholarship Students at Hunter College of the City of New York. By Adele Bii dwrsee. New York: Columbia University, 1932. Pp. xii + 138.

Teaching History in the High School. Mary E. Peck. Published by the State Teachers College, Farmville, Virginia, 1933.

Forward Steps in Thinking and Writing. Wilson‐Rubado‐Scovlle and Johnson. Silver Burdett &; Co., 1933.

A Point Scale of Performance Tests. By Grace Arthur. New York: The Commonwealth Fund, 1933. Pp. xi + 106.

Principles of Genetics. By Edmund W. Sinnott and L. C. Dunn. New York: McGraw‐Hill Book Company, Inc., 1932. Pp xvi + 441.

New High School Arithmetic—Revised. By Webster Wells and Walter W. Hart. New York: D. C. Heath and Company, 1933. Pp. viii + 357.

Teacher Absence and Leave Regulations. By William D. Kuhlman. New York: Columbia University, 1933. Pp. viii + 75.

Co‐operative Citizenship. By Joseph Irvin Arnold. Evanston, Ill.: Row, Peterson and Co., 1933. Pp. lii + 716.

Stimulation of Educational Undertakings. By J. Wayne Whightstone. New York: Columbia University, 1933. Pp. viii + 76.

Biology and Human Welfare (New Edition). By James Edward Peabody and Arthur Ellsworth Hunt. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1933. Pp. xii + 658.     

The Diversity and Dynamics of Competition: Evidence from two local schooling markets

The policy of encouraging schools to compete has been justified on the basis of raising measured levels of attainment and widening choice. In this paper we review the basis for this policy, utilising the economic analysis of markets with a small number of providers. We note that in such markets, typical of local schooling markets, increased competition may generate diverse market behaviour and identify factors likely to produce rivalry and co-operation. We then present evidence of two apparently similar local schooling markets that exhibit very different levels and types of competition. We show how an assessment of the intensity of competition in a local schooling market depends on the particular indicators chosen. We review alternative interpretations for these differences in the nature of competition and relate to recent policy initiatives.     

Raising Health Literacy and Promoting Empowerment to Meet the Challenges of Aging in Hong Kong

This study aimed to determine the educational needs of members of the public and related professional disciplines in order to improve health literacy in elderly issues. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2007; 2,694 subjects were recruited from the noninstitutional Hong Kong population aged 16 years and over. Undergraduate students of health care professions, professionals working at the hospitals, and the seniors were purposefully over-sampled. Results showed significant knowledge gaps and misconceptions. The gaps were more prevalent with increasing age in general, although they also existed among health care professionals. Public education should target the revealed areas of knowledge gaps and misconceptions.     

WHAT ADOLESCENTS KNOW ABOUT AGING

Increasing the amount of contact with older adults is often proposed as a way to inform young people about aging. This study compares adolescents’ knowledge of aging with the amount and quality of contact they have with an older adult and compares adolescents’ knowledge of aging in 1978 with their knowledge in 1985. The results indicate that adolescents are very misinformed or uninformed about aging and older adults. Profiles of the responses on individual items from Palmore's “Facts on Aging” reveal qualitative differences associated with gender, degree of contact, and changes over time in the nature of the adolescents’ knowledge of aging. How adolescents perceive older adults and the implications this has for educational efforts are discussed.