Social relations as predictors of achievement in math in Kenyan primary schools

In sub-Saharan Africa, where there is limited financial and human capital, it is important to examine how social relationships may serve to promote or undermine human capital formation. However, little is known about the contributions of social relations to human capital development, especially in terms of academic achievement in Africa. This study examined how variations in key aspects of social relations among teachers; between teachers and students; between principals, teachers, parents and students affect achievement in mathematics among sixth graders in 70 schools in six districts in Kenya. We modeled mathematics achievement as a function of measures of social perception and support while adjusting for school-, classroom- and student level background characteristics. We found that net of teacher subject knowledge and background characteristics, teachers who display commitment to teaching by always correcting homework and keeping students engaged during math lessons had their students performing better. Teacher absenteeism and lack of interest in teaching were negatively associated with performance in math. Lack of parental involvement in the classroom also had negative effects on grades. At the school level, the level of engagement of the principal, measured by supervision of teachers and good interpersonal interactions with parents had positive effects on math achievement. Schools where parents provided material and financial support had better grades, while student delinquency and absenteeism negatively affected grades.     

Do children spend too much time in schools? Evidence from a longer school year in Indonesia

I examine the effects of a longer school year in Indonesia on grade repetition, educational attainment, employability, and earnings. I exploit an arbitrary rule that assigned students to a longer school year in Indonesia in 1978–1979, which fits a fuzzy regression discontinuity design. I find the longer school year decreases the probability of grade repetition and increases educational attainment; it also increases the probability of working in formal sectors and wages later in life. These results suggest the length of school years in Indonesia is not too long.     

党在提高社会管理科学化水平中的主导作用

2011年2月19日胡锦涛在省部级主要领导干部社会管理及其创新专题研讨班开班式上明确提出了＂提高社会管理科学化水平＂的重大命题。党作为社会的领导者,通过主导政策探索、管理格局、党群关系、基层基础、社会组织、虚拟社会、核心价值,事实上在创新社会管理、提高社会管理科学化水平中发挥着主导性作用。     

生态危机与诗意拯救——《我,雪豹……——献给乔治·夏勒》的生态批评解读

生态批评是当今世界上一个历久弥新的话题,它就是要"历史的揭示文化是如何影响地球生态的",而彝族诗人吉狄马加的《我,雪豹……——献给乔治.夏勒》就深刻的体现了他浓厚的生态意识,具有超越时代的历史意义。文章试图从生态批评的角度来解读这首诗歌,让诗人强烈的世界意识和生态伦理意识直观的呈现在读者面前,同时也让诗中对生态意识的思考和生态理想得到进一步升华。     

Exploring school exclusion through the perspective of child labourers living in Sultanbeyli,on the periphery of Istanbul,Turkey

This study employs a socio-ecological perspective to explore the impact of the community, school environment and personal circumstances of young people living in the squatter district of Sultanbeyli in Istanbul, Turkey, who have been excluded from school and who are working in very difficult conditions. The views explored in this paper are derived from semi-structured interviews that covered the reasons for their exclusion. The findings show that the elimination of poverty and the provision of universal education are linked and that one cannot be achieved without the other. The impact of poverty on the processes of school exclusion requires greater recognition, because it helps to perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of social and educational disadvantage. In the case of these young people from Sultanbeyli, the school system has failed to contribute to their inclusion; instead, it has further increased their marginal, disadvantaged position by unintentionally pushing them into the worst forms of child labour and criminality.     

Gender-preferential intergenerational patterns in primary educational attainment: An econometric approach to a case in rural Mindanao,the Philippines

This study investigates the factors determining children's educational attainment, focusing on gender-differential intergenerational patterns, by employing a case study from rural Mindanao. The result mainly shows, unlike general trends in developing countries, educational attainment is more favorable for girls; maternal education level is equally associated with daughters’ and sons’ education levels, and paternal education level is preferentially favorable to their sons. To reduce the disparity, suggestions include providing boy-specific interventions to enhance the magnitude of the father–son educational virtuous circle and comparing the magnitude of gender-equal maternal and boy-preferential paternal education influences to specify which effect is larger.     

霍桑的《红字》与《圣经》人物原型

《圣经》是清教思想的根源和基础,霍桑把《圣经》中的人物移植到自己的文学作品之中来表达个人的宗教观。他充分利用作家想象的自由,把生活中的男男女女置于神秘的宗教背景之中,赋予他们象征的含义,解释人类心灵的秘密,从而获得一种美学上的超越。     

《牡丹亭》结局探微

《牡丹亭》的结局,一般都认为是大团圆结局,然而杜宝始终不认可杜、柳二人的自由婚姻,故《牡丹亭》并非传统意义上的大团圆结局。如此安排,让《牡丹亭》中的现实世界与浪漫世界的冲突和碰撞展现在观众、读者面前,使其具有更加深刻、丰富饱满的社会现实意义。     

乔伊斯短篇小说《姐妹》的功能文体学分析

《姐妹》是乔伊斯小说的开篇之作,国内外文学评论多从主题研究和叙述特色来分析此小说,其实从功能文体学的角度来分析《姐妹》的文体特色,则能发现《姐妹》语言的选择与主题思想的体现十分紧密的契合在一起,这对深化理解小说的瘫痪主题以及对乔伊斯作品的深层次地理解具有重要意义。