Health Curriculum and School Quality: International perspectives

The study looks at issues surrounding the definition, choice and implemen tation of the planned content of health education for primary schools, focusing on two countries in Africa and on one Indian state. It argues that health education is a vital component to achieving quality because it links home with school; 'needs now' with 'needs later'. Yet it is proves exceptionally difficult to plan and deliver such content effectively because curriculum planning bodies are geared to work with separate subjects rather than across the curriculum, with classroom content rather than wider learning experiences in and from school, and with textbooks and examinations rather than the physical and human environment of the school community. There is confusion as to the definition and purpose of health education, omission and overlap in planned learning opportunities and a wide gap between what is planned centrally and what is actually delivered in school. There is considerable awareness of the need to rethink approaches and a large number of separate proposals for action have emerged, aimed at improving content, methodology, materials and evaluation strategies. Yet many fundamental problems remain concerning the structure and purpose of planning bodies (notably the Curriculum Centres) and with overcoming a restrictive and conservative culture of schooling. Issues raised in this study have wide relevance, not only to other countries but also to the planning of other themes, such as environmental protection and conflict resolution.     

A Behavior Observation System for Group Supervision

A behavior observation system was developed for group supervision. The observation system was designed to measure the occurrence of verbal problem-solving behavior during group supervision meetings. Reliability data were obtained from four counseling teams' group supervision meetings at a residential facility for youngsters with social and emotional problems. Interrater agreement based on occurrences of verbal behavior indicated that the observation system has adequate reliability for preliminary research. Possible directions for research with the observation system are delineated.     

Self-Portraiture: The Uses of Academic Autobiography

This review article examines Leonard Waks's innovative collection of essays entitled Self-Portraiture: The Uses of Academic Autobiography: Review of Leaders in Philosophy of Education: Intellectual Self-Portraits. The book is based on invitations to leading philosophers of education to write about their own careers in the field and to offer an intellectual autobiography. The purpose of the book is not primarily to provide a history of particular arguments and their rebuttal, and in this sense it is not directly philosophical, but the chapters do chronicle broader intellectual shifts, and this is invaluable. The article examines the essays in terms of the relation between the professional and the personal, and between political and social contexts. Academic virtues and vices are found to be on display in several of the accounts. Together the essays constitute, albeit to an incomplete degree, the history of a movement, with philosophy of education framed mainly as an Anglo-American pursuit. Finally, in the light of this series of reflections, the article ponders the future of the subject both in relation to the changing context of educational policy and practice, and in terms of its positioning with regard to mainstream philosophy.     

Books for Younger Secondary School Children in a Multi-racial Classroom

In this article I want to discuss some conclusions I have reached about using books with younger pupils in a multi-racial classroom. I shall have to make some general points about underlying approaches. Since I work in a general studies programme with first year pupils, I also want to comment in passing on some implications for teaching in history and geography.