Tracing the development of poor student motivation and performance in township secondary schools

Abstract

Unsatisfactory motivation levels related to learning and studying among students is a universal problem. Students represent a diverse collection of abilities, talents, personalities and aspirations and come from different social and political backgrounds which may affect their motivation to learn and study. Some students are taught in schools where there is an abundance of resources and facilities, whereas others are taught in schools with inadequate resources and facilities. Student motivation, however, is a prerequisite for academic performance. Consequently, students’ potential, qualified teachers and school resources and facilities count very little if students are not motivated. This article examines the development of the lack of student motivation and academic performance in township secondary schools. The study has found that the motivation of students in these schools has been eroded by the students’ and teachers’ protracted involvement in anti-academic activities which have disrupted the education process. Due to the poor motivation of students, academic performance has deteriorated markedly and this situation should be resolved.     

Racism and citizenship education in Northern Ireland

Racist attitudes towards, and attacks on, the minority ethnic populations in Northern Ireland (NI) have increased dramatically over the last number of years. Despite the increased media attention regarding racist attacks, the fallacy that racism is not a major problem in NI is an enduring one. However, there is a growing recognition that minority ethnic communities experience a diverse range of racial harassment. Education is a mode promoted by national and European governments as the vehicle in which anti-racism programmes can be delivered. This article suggests the impending introduction of a statutory citizenship education (CE) component to the revised NI curriculum from September 2007 can play an important role in tackling the high levels of racism being experienced by the minority ethnic population in NI.     

Urban teachers’ perceptions of inclusion of migrant children in the Chinese educational institution: a comparative study

Recently China has been undergoing an unprecedented urbanisation process which has resulted in millions of rural families living in urban areas. As part of a study of Chinese migrant children's educational experiences, surveys and interviews were conducted with primary school teachers in a metropolitan city in East China. The objectives of this study were to describe teachers’ perceptions of migrant children's education in both migrant schools and in public schools, and to investigate differences in their beliefs between school types. Results found that urban teachers’ perceptions of educational inclusion of migrant students were slightly negative in general. However, teachers in public schools showed significantly more positive attitudes to inclusion of migrant students than migrant school teachers. In the light of these findings, the paper concludes with implications for practice and policy for education of migrant children in China.     

中小学精英主义的教学倾向及其分析

由于教学过程中的公平易被人忽视,所以中小学长期存在的精英主义教学倾向难以引起教师及社会的应有关注。中小学精英主义的教学倾向主要表现为"因材施教"的曲解、"勤能补拙"的隐喻及"圈子文化"的排斥。克服中小学精英主义的教学倾向需要教师、社会及家长通力合作,以多元视角看待学生智力,促进学生群体间平等对话,给予"非精英"更多关照,从而保证每位学生都得到更好的发展。     

基于进化博弈的房地产市场参与主体行为分析

房价的形成是一个非常复杂的博弈机制,是房地产市场主要参与者从自身利益出发与其他参与主体进行博弈的结果。利用进化博弈论分析房地产市场主要参与者之间的行为,发现中央政府基于地方政府的违规概率和监督成本选择其监督行为,地方政府基于中央政府的监督和惩罚力度选择其行为,房地产商基于寻租成本、政府的设租概率和惩罚力度选择寻租行为,信息的不对称使得房地产商选择垄断价格策略,而购房者大多选择即期购买。为促进房地产市场的健康持续发展,中央政府应加大对地方政府违规行为的处罚概率和力度,同时加大对地方政府的奖励力度,政府应加大对房地产商违规行为的惩罚力度,并进一步降低房地产市场信息的不对称性;房地产购买者应保持高度的理性,作出理性的购房选择。     

人民公社时期乡村治理模式透析

研究了人民公社时期的乡村治理模式,认为人民公社模式的产生具有内在根据,适应了把农民组织起来、巩固人民政权的需要,也有中国革命经验的惯性作用.人民公社模式在乡村治理方面实行“三级管理制度”的组织结构,基层生产大队也形成了党高度一体化领导的权力系统,采取计划取代市场的生产生活活动,导致公社社员全面依附公社.从整体上看,人民公社模式下的乡村治理,扭曲了农民的政治参与,激化了乡村社会矛盾,阻碍了乡村社会的正常分化,破坏了农业生产,影响了乡村文明的发展.     

国际化合作办学人才培养模式研究

大连大学日语专业在学生的国际化、师资、课程、科学研究的国际化及国际拓展五方面开启了国际化合作办学的人才培养模式,并取得了一定的成效。对国际化合作办学人才培养模式改革的研究,能为高校日语专业国际化合作办学的发展提供参考。     

Empowering visuo-spatial ability in primary school: results from a follow-up study

The current study was primarily aimed at verifying the effect of a combined computer-assisted and pencil-and-paper training that was developed to empower visuo-spatial abilities in primary school pupils. One hundred and twenty third grade (mean average: eight years old) and fourth grade (mean age: nine years old) students attending several Italian primary schools were presented with several tests of the Primary Mental Abilities (PMA) battery by Thurstone and Thurstone. Of these, 64 children underwent the training “Recovery in visuo-spatial abilities” developed by Fastame and Antonini for 15 weekly sessions. The remaining students were assigned to the control group. Post-test scores and a follow-up assessment after six months by the end of the training highlight the positive impact of the intervention in enhancing visuo-spatial abilities.     

Schools, ‘ferals’, stigma and boundary work: parents managing education and uncertainty in regional Australia

This paper examines forms of boundary work undertaken by parents in a regional Australian city to negotiate social processes around the school market amidst rising economic insecurity. It outlines structural changes, which have increased economic inequality in Australia and impacted on educational reform, and the specific challenges faced by public schools in regional settings. Drawing on 18 months’ qualitative research in one regional location, it identifies and analyses forms of boundary work undertaken by middle-class families to manage these uncertainties in a field of scarce economic and cultural resources. Theories of class culture, stigma and whiteness are used to show how local social labels such as ‘ferals’ and ‘shiny people’ acted as classed and racialised ways of negotiating this social and economic landscape through the school field. Such practices engendered feelings of security and control and shed light on feelings of class-based resentment and anxiety in regional Australia, specifically a middle-class ‘fear of falling’.     

论社会救助城乡统筹中的政策动力因素

公共政策是一项有力、有效的动力工具。认清公共政策在社会救助城乡统筹中的动力属性,进而提出一个具有生态功能、城乡统筹、层级分工的社会救助政策体系并持之以恒地不断推进与完善,是当前我国实现社会救助城乡统筹的重要动力源和动力手段。