Sexuality education in Europe: an overview of current policies

Comprehensive sexuality education is one of the most important tools to ensure that young people have the information they need to make healthy and informed choices. The aim of this article is, firstly, to outline general issues about sexuality education pertaining to curriculum content, the didactic methods used, agencies involved, political support, coverage and adequacy of provision and barriers to effective sexuality education in Europe. Secondly, the current state of sexuality education in most European Union member states and Norway is described, enabling a Europe-wide comparison of country experiences in the field. This reveals a wide variety of didactic methods and policies that have shaped the provision of sexuality education and the ease and difficulties with which the subject can be implemented, and at what age and in what form it is available.     

The Association Between a Community College’s Teacher Education Program and the 4-year Graduation Rates of Black and Hispanic Teacher Education Students

ABSTRACT

In response to a shortage of qualified Black and Hispanic teachers, community colleges (CC) have developed certificate programs and Associate of Arts degrees in teacher education to address shortages of minority teachers in the nation’s classrooms. We examined one CC’s effectiveness in transferring Black and Hispanic students to university teacher education programs and the association with Black and Hispanic students graduating with a bachelor’s degree. We compared enrollment and transfer student data for the 2003 community college teacher education program cohort to graduation data for native-to-university students of two 4-year universities. Data were analyzed using chi square and phi coefficients. The CC Black and Hispanic students graduated at the same rates as the native-to-university students and higher than their peers of the same races, regardless of major, who began at 2-year colleges at the national level. We encourage CC teacher education programs to invest resources to increase enrollment of Black and Hispanic students to address the growing need for minority teachers to serve in urban communities.     

Biceps femoris long head muscle fascicle length does not differ between sexes

ABSTRACT

Hamstring strain injury (HSI) rates are higher for males vs. females. This cross-sectional study investigated if inherent differences in biceps femoris long head (BF_LH) fascicle length (Lf) exist between recreationally active males and females (i.e., individuals without specific training practice history). Twenty-four young healthy participants (12 males; 12 females) had their BF_LH muscle architecture (Lf, pennation angle [θp], and muscle thickness [MT]) measured using B-mode ultrasonography. Eccentric and isometric knee flexion strength were also assessed. BF_LH Lf did not differ between sexes when expressed in absolute terms (males, 81.5 ± 14.7 mm; females, 73.6 ± 15.9 mm, P = 0.220, effect size (ES) = 0.52) or relative to femur length (0.140 ≤ P ≤ 0.220, ES = 0.63). Similarly, BF_LH θp did not differ between sexes (P = 0.650) but BF_LH MT was 18.9% larger for males vs. females (P = 0.024, ES = 0.99). Isometric and eccentric knee flexion strength was greater for males vs. females in absolute terms ([both] P < 0.001, 2.00 ≤ ES ≤ 2.27) and relative to body mass ([both] P < 0.001, 1.93 ≤ ES ≤ 2.13). In conclusion, factors other than BF_LH Lf seem likely to be implicated in higher male vs. female HSI rates.     

Student teachers’ perceptions of reading and the teaching of reading: the implications for teacher education

This article reports on research which identified perceptions of reading and the teaching of reading held by trainee teachers and the impact on my provision as a teacher educator. It found that students’ past and present experiences of learning to read and being a reader influenced their perceptions of what reading is and of what it means to teach reading. As a teacher educator, I am not able to give students long experience of seeing children becoming readers, but I am able to give them richer experiences of reading in personally and culturally relevant contexts. This has implications for the nature of subject knowledge required by a student teacher of reading and the curriculum and practice of teacher education.     

RESOURCES IN REVIEW

Abstract

Down to Earth: Applying Business Principles to Environmental Management, by Forest L. Reinhardt. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press. 2000. Clothbound. 291 pages. $29.95. ISBN 1–57851–192–5.

Eco-Efficiency: The Business Link to Sustainable Development, by Livio D. DeSimone and Frank Popoff. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 2000. Paperback. 306 pages. $17.95. ISBN 0–262–54109–2.

Managing the Environment, Managing Ourselves: A History of American Environmental Policy, by Richard N. L. Andrews. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. 1999. Paperback. 463 pages. $30.00. ISBN 0–300–07795–5.

Acting Locally: Concepts and Models for Service-learning in Environmental Studies, edited by Harold Ward. Washington, DC: American Association for Higher Education. 1999. Paperback. 214 pages. $28.50, or $24.50 for ACHE members. ISBN 1–56377–013–X.

Drowning the Dream: California's Water Choices at the Millennium, by David Carle. Westport, CT: Praeger Press. 2000. Hardback. 235 pages. $45.00. ISBN 0–275–96719–0.

Communication Skills for Conservation Professionals, by Susan K. Jacobson. Washington, DC: Island Press. 1999. Paperback. 356 pages. $27.50. ISBN 1–55963–509–6.

Environmental Connections: A Teacher's Guide to Environmental Studies, by Kathleen B. deBettencourt, Matthew Feeney, A. Nicole Barone, and Keith White, for the Environmental Literacy Council. Dubuque, IA: Kendall-Hunt. 2000. Paperback. 196 pages, plus index. $21.95. ISBN 0–7872–7105–5.

Evaluating Environmental Education, by Karel Stokking, Lisette van Aert, Wiem Meijberg, and Anneke Kaskens. 1999. IUCN Commission on Education and Communication. Available from IUCN Publication Services Unit, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL United Kingdom. ISBN 2–8317–0499–5.

Facts, Not Fear: Teaching Children About the Environment (Rev. ed.), by Michael Sanera and Jane S. Shaw. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, 1999. Paperback. $12.95. ISBN 0–89526–293–2.     

An analysis of the ecological components within a text structure intervention

The Component Model of Reading expanded upon the Simple View of Reading by adding an ecological and psychological component. Elements of the ecological component include teacher knowledge, information provided in textbooks, and teacher instructional practices. In this study, the authors examined the extent of teacher knowledge about text structure, the extent to which textbooks focused on text structure related skills and strategies as well as the percentage each skill and strategy was covered in lessons and teacher instructional practices. Such analysis shows that although text structure interventions may have positive effects on student reading comprehension, there are multiple elements of the ecological component that may be counteracting the benefits of the intervention. First, teachers have a limited knowledge of the five common text structures. Second, textbooks systematically minimize text structure instruction and only cover comprehension skills and strategies sporadically throughout a year-long curriculum. Third, teacher learning of text structures and change in practice was moderated by these ecological factors including textbook scheduled instruction and administrator support.