School Autonomy and the Role of the State: Some reflections on the current school educational system in Germany

The changes within the educational system of a modern industrial state can only be seen against the background of national traditions and international trends. A topical example within the German context will be discussed in this paper. It focuses on the demand for more autonomy for the single school, whilst, at the same time, following pedagogical and political goals. More than a decade ago educationists started to look at the individual school as a unit with its own criteria of performance. They started to research the qualities of a 'good school' and gave innovative input to school development. A call for more autonomy on a school-based level was one of their main recommendations. Only latterly have educationists and teachers realised that this demand is in line with discussions amongst politicians on the same issue. Clearly, the latter have been linked to an all-European context in which educational policies are moving towards the autonomous school as an enterprise in the marketplace. The paper discusses the ongoing German argument. Les évolutions du système éducatif d'une nation moderne industrialisée dépendent à proportion égale du contexte de traditions nationales et de courants ayant une influence internationale. L'article suivant propose de discuter un exemple actuel: La revendication pédagogique et politique d'une plus grande autonomie pour chaque école prend pour l'éducation publique allemande des formes spécifiques dues aux conditions particulìeres du système national d'éducation allemand. Des essais dans la recherche des sciences de l'´ education ayant pour but de définir chaque école comme une unité d'action individuelle et comme une bonne école ont déclenché des impulsions innovatives dans le domaine de l'évolution scolaire. Le désir d'une plus grande autonomie pédagogique né des besoins individuels de chaque école s'est vu confronté à une discussion sur l'autonomie qui s'oriente à des buts de politique éducative. L'orientation au maché propageé par ce courant dans la politique de l'éducation est un point discuté au niveau international, qui a déclenché en République Fédérale Allemande une discussion houleuse. Los cambios de un sistema educativo en un pís industrial se deben entender en el contexto de las tradiciones nacionales y al mismo tiempo de las influencias de tendencias internacionales. En este artículo el autor discute un ejemplo actual: La exigencia pedagógica y de la política para ortogar más autonomía a cada una de las escuelas tiene aspectos específicos en el marco del sistema educativo alemán. Partiendo de experimentos pedagógicos que entendían cada escuela como una unidad de acción, y que caracterizaban así una "buena escuela" se iniciaron impulsos innovadores para el desarrollo de la escuela, Los esfuerzos basados en objetivos pedagógicos para una mayor autonomía de cada escuela se vieron enfrentados a una discusión sobre la ampliacíon de la autonomía con objetivos políticos, y una marcada orientación de la escuela como empresa en el mercado. Esta discusión ha llevado a una fuerte controversia en la República Federal de Alemania. Veränderungen im Bildungssystem eines modernen Industriestaates stehen gleichermaßen im Kontext nationaler Traditionen wie im Einflussbereich international wirksamer Trends. Ein aktuelles Beispiel wird in diesem Artikel diskutiert: die pädagogische und bildungspolitische Forderung nach mehr Autonomie für die einzelne Schule erfährt unter den spezifischen Bedingungen des deutschen Bildungswesens eine spezifische Ausformung. Ausgehend von erziehungswissenschaftlichen Versuchen, die einzelne Schule als Handlungseinheit zu definieren und eine gute Schule zu charakterisieren, wurden innovative Impulse zur Schulentwicklung ausgelöst. Die aus den Bedürfnissen der einzelnen Schulen hervorgehenden Bestrebungen nach mehr Autonomie im pädagogischen Sektor trafen jedoch auf eine Autonomiediskussion, die von (bildungs-) politischen Zielsetzungen getragen wird. Die von dieser Seite propagierte Marktorientierung der öffentlichen Erziehung ist ein international diskutierter Ansatz, der in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland eine heftige Kontroverse ausgelöst hat.     

The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Child Telomere Length: Examining Self-Regulation as a Behavioral Mediator

Childhood adversity is linked to shortened telomere length (TL), but behavioral indicators of telomere attrition remain unclear. This study examined the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and child TL, and if ACEs were indirectly associated with TL through children’s self-regulatory abilities (i.e., effortful control and self-control). Hypotheses were tested using national data from teachers, parents, and their children (N = 2,527; M_age = 9.35, SD = .36 years). More ACEs were uniquely associated with short TL, and low self-control mediated the association between more ACEs and short TL. While longitudinal studies are needed to strengthen claims of causation, this study identifies a pathway from ACEs to TL that should be explored further.     

Sexual abuse in the developmentally disabled: Dilemmas of diagnosis

Evaluation of developmentally disabled persons for physical signs of sexual abuse presents many challenges to the practitioner. This group is especially vulnerable to all types of abuse. A group of 35 mentally retarded females from a residential treatment facility was examined by the child abuse medical team at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center after one inpatient was found to be pregnant. Patients ranged in age from 13 to 55 years (median, 26 years; mean, 31.3 +/- 13.6 years). All of the women had some degree of disability, with 24 (69%) being categorized as profoundly retarded. No patient was able to provide a history. There were 13 (37%) patients who had genital findings we believe are consistent with prior vaginal penetration. Dilemmas which arose during evaluation included the significance of healed genital lesions in this population and the implications of the findings for the residential facility. While developmentally disabled persons need an advocate in the medical and legal systems, these patients can overwhelm the practitioner. Whenever possible, a team approach is recommended to decrease the work load and frustration and provide collegial support and affirmation of findings.     

Social Presence and Identity: Facebook in an English Language Classroom

While social media is widely used by youth around the world, research is only beginning to document how transnational students employ these technologies. This study investigated how English-learning adolescents in the United States use social media to engage in social, academic, and identity work. Data were collected during a four-day social media unit in a high school English as a Second Language class of mostly recently arrived East African youth. Data sources included Facebook posts, video recordings of class interactions, student presentations, and interviews. These data were analyzed through post-structuralist identity frames (e.g., Norton, 2010) and the social semiotic construct of modality (van Leeuwen, 2005). Analyses indicated that through the process of building social presence (SP), learners asserted identities, which were affirmed by classmates, and legitimated their contributions. This legitimation resulted in rich, interactive learning experiences in the group. This finding has implications for using social media in classes with transnational newcomers.     

Moderate-domain pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics and endurance running performance

The aims of this study were to determine if the primary time constant (tau) for oxygen uptake (VO2) at the onset of moderate-intensity treadmill exercise is related to endurance running performance, and to establish if tau could be considered a determinant of endurance running performance. Thirty-six endurance trained male runners performed a series of laboratory tests, on separate days, to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), the ventilatory threshold (VT) and running economy. In addition, runners completed six transitions from walking (4 km x h-1) to moderate-intensity running (80% VT) for the determination of the VO2 primary time constant and mean response time. During all tests, pulmonary gas-exchange was measured breath-by-breath. Endurance running performance was determined using a treadmill 5-km time-trial, after which runners were considered as combined performers (n=36) and, using a ranking system, high performers (n=10) and low performers (n=10). Relationships between tau and endurance running performance were quantified using correlation coefficients (r). Stepwise multiple regression was used to determine the primary predictor variables of endurance running performance in combined performers. Moderate correlations were observed between tau, mean response time and endurance running performance, but only for the combined performers (r=-0.55, P=0.001 and r=-0.50, P=0.002, respectively). The regression model for predicting 5-km performance did not include tau or mean response time. The velocity at VO2max was strongly correlated to endurance running performance in all groups (r=0.72 - 0.84, P < 0.01) and contributed substantially to the prediction of performance. In conclusion, the results suggest that despite their role in determining the oxygen deficit and having a moderate relationship with endurance running performance, neither tau nor mean response time is a primary determinant of endurance running performance.     

Validierung von neun Bewegungssensoren bei Kindern und jungen Erwachsenen

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of one accelerometer and eight pedometers in schoolchildren and young adults under controlled experimental conditions and under free-living conditions over a 24-h period. The most accurate results under controlled conditions were obtained with a piezoelectric pedometer. For this device absolute deviations (median) ranged between 0.2 and 1.0% for children and between 0.2 and 1.4% for young adults. Absolute deviations for the accelerometer were 0.8–3.1% for children and 0.6–3.2% for adults. Motion sensors were more accurate with increasing walking speed. For several pedometers the absolute deviation exceeded 50% in tests with schoolchildren. These differing results illustrate that step counts from different motion sensors cannot be compared directly. Therefore, the validity and reliability of activity monitors should be examined carefully before being used in scientific research.