Volume 12 Issue 2

This book makes a valuable contribution to Christian education. Avoiding the all-toofamiliar clichés found in some of the literature in this field, the author provides the reader with a rich tapestry of ideas and reflections, both philosophical and practical.

Teacher educators at Seventh-day Adventist tertiary institutions across the South Pacific will seek to collaborate on development and research after attending an inaugural conference

Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”. Education, however, is not only about passing on skills and knowledge but also about developing character or, as the authors of Developing Tenacity, put it: developing capabilities or dispositions that will aid the learner not only at school but all through life.

209 junior school students, ranging from year four to year six, and their nine teachers participated in this study that explored how the psychological factors of growth mindset: the belief in one’s ability to learn and succeed, selfcontrol: the ability to resist temptation and remain focused on a goal, and grit: applying passion and perseverance for long term goals, impact junior school students’ academic achievement. This study found that growth mindset, selfcontrol and grit can all play a part in helping students to achieve academically in primary schools. The two factors, grit and growth mindset were found to have a direct, significant influence on academic achievement. Grittier students were more likely to outperform their peers in academic achievement. Students with a higher growth mindset were also more likely to outperform their peers. Growth mindset had a significant positive relationship with grit. Although the present study did not find a significant difference in grit based on gender, the structured equation model indicated that boys had a significant direct link to grit, but girls compensated through the significant indirect link to grit via self-control. The present study found a highly positive correlation between self-control and grit. Students with higher levels of self-control were more likely to exhibit higher levels of grit.

In a series of introductory classes on wellbeing in schools this year, my primary pre-service students and I looked at wellbeing from four different perspectives.

Around ANZAC Day this year, some suggested that we, as Australians, probably should not try to date our identity from the Gallipoli campaign. No doubt these comments were treated as heresy by many celebrating on the day but they do raise an interesting argument surrounding the “Who am I?” question. One of the points being made is that we could hardly call ourselves fully Australian because of Gallipoli, when the original inhabitants have called the continent home for tens of thousands of years.