Nanocontainer aqueous systems for removing polymeric materials from marble surfaces: A new and promising tool in cultural heritage conservation

The present study dealt with the characterisation of marble surfaces coated by three kinds of polymeric material usually employed in stones conservation and with the evaluation of the removal of these coatings from the surfaces by means of new nanocontainer aqueous systems constituted of micellar solutions (MS) and oil-in-water microemulsions (MC). The polymeric coatings were also subjected to accelerated artificial ageing in order to detect possible effects associated to natural photochemical ageing. The aim of the work was the assessment of the performance of such nanocontainer aqueous systems taking acetone (Ac) as a reference “traditional” solvent for the removal procedure. The characterisation was carried out by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopies and the results obtained showed that the performance of these innovative methods based on nanocontainer aqueous systems can be considered highly promising in the view of a “green approach” to the conservation of cultural heritage.     

Learning Culture,Spirituality and Local Knowledge: Implications for African Schooling

International Review of Education - (Learning, Culture, Spirituality and Local Knowedge: Implications for African Schooling) – Using a Ghanaian case study, this paper looks at the relevance...     

The British and curriculum development in West Africa: A historical discourse

THE BRITISH AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA: A HISTORICAL STUDY – Only recently have African nations begun to make their way towards establishing genuinely autonomous education systems incorporating elements of indigenous culture. The present study examines the historical development of curriculum in British West Africa in its links with the educational activities of the early Christian missionaries and the imposition of British colonial rule. For over 300 years, the curriculum content was essentially European in nature. African interests and cultural practices were largely excluded, as “bookwork” was favored over “handwork”. The colonial curriculum also helped introduce a new social order to West Africa, leading to the rise of new local elites reading, writing, and speaking foreign European languages. This study explores how the idea of a “civilized” person, promoted through the colonial school curriculum, developed new local elites with different sets of values and expectations that often made them strangers in their own societies. It also describes the connection between this curriculum and the repeated failure of education-reform efforts.     

The challenge of inclusive schooling in Africa: a Ghanaian case study

This paper explores how African learners and educators work with difference and diversity in schooling populations. Using a Ghanaian case study the paper offers lessons on/about how local discourses relating to ‘inclusivity and nation building’, ‘minority’ and ‘difference’ can inform debates about educational change and guide broad policy initiatives in pluralistic settings. While difference is affirmed, in some circles it can be said Ghanaian educators have not necessarily been responsive. It is contended that Ghanaian, and for that matter, African education, since historical times, has been approached in terms of its fundamental contribution to national development. In emphasizing the goal of post‐independence national integration, ‘postcolonial’ education in Africa has denied heterogeneity in local populations as if difference itself was a problem. With this orientation education has undoubtedly helped create and maintain the glaring disparities and inequities; structured along lines of ethnicity, culture, language, religion, gender and class, which persist and grow. By pointing to how local subjects (educators, learners and policy‐makers) link identity, schooling and knowledge production this paper implicates the search for genuine educational options or alternatives for Africa.     

The British and curriculum development in West Africa: A historical discourse

THE BRITISH AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA: A HISTORICAL STUDY – Only recently have African nations begun to make their way towards establishing genuinely autonomous education systems incorporating elements of indigenous culture. The present study examines the historical development of curriculum in British West Africa in its links with the educational activities of the early Christian missionaries and the imposition of British colonial rule. For over 300 years, the curriculum content was essentially European in nature. African interests and cultural practices were largely excluded, as “bookwork” was favored over “handwork”. The colonial curriculum also helped introduce a new social order to West Africa, leading to the rise of new local elites reading, writing, and speaking foreign European languages. This study explores how the idea of a “civilized” person, promoted through the colonial school curriculum, developed new local elites with different sets of values and expectations that often made them strangers in their own societies. It also describes the connection between this curriculum and the repeated failure of education-reform efforts.     

Education democracy and development

Corrigendum

Education democracy and development     

QR Codes in Libraries: Uses and Usage Tracking

This article discusses the uses of Quick Response (QR) codes in libraries and how to assess their usefulness. It describes a step-by-step approach to developing a system to track the scans of QR codes by library users for assessment.     

关于墨子“非儒”与孟子“辟墨”

墨子"非儒"与孟子"辟墨"是先秦思想史上重要的学术公案。学者大多注意到了儒墨相互否定与排拒的一面,但对在批评中接受对方的另一面则关注较少。事实上,墨子学于儒家,所以"非儒"才能切中要害。墨子若学儒不深,则其非儒则无力,影响也难以超越儒家。孟子的"辟墨"更是如此。他要首先深入墨家思想,然后才能作出深刻的批判。他接受了墨家的天的至善性,把天与人贯通起来,否定了其外在的宗教意义;他批评墨子的兼爱是"无父",指出其实质是把亲人当路人,击中了墨家兼爱思想的要害,大大丰富了仁爱思想的内涵;他在对抗墨子的"非乐"思想中,大力倡导"与民同乐",使"乐"成为君民共享的社会财富;他在批判墨子"非命"思想的同时,以"浩然之气"的大丈夫风范,积极倡行儒家学说,并以"与时俱变"的姿态超越了墨子。孟子的辟墨表现出否定和接受、排拒和融合、对抗和超越相统一的特征。结果,墨学精华尽入于儒;此后,墨家再无反击之力。