Volume 5 Issue 1
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Publication Joys, Tensions and Issues: Special Needs Provisions in an Australian, Christian, Education System 2009 / 2010(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Shields, MarionThis research project investigated the current provisions for students with special needs (SWSN) in a national, Australian, Christian school system (49 schools) during 2009–2010. Most respondents were the designated special needs teachers in those schools; however, in some of the small schools the principal also carried this role. In addition to the quantitative data reported via questionnaires, respondents were able to comment on relevant issues and possible solutions, as they perceived them. Issues and tensions included managing limited funding for SWSN in non-government schools; a lack of appropriate qualifications for staff who worked with SWSN; enrolment of SWSN and a changing school profile; lack of networking and sharing between the schools in the system; and diagnosis for students with special needs. Results indicated that 16% of the students had special needs, 28% of the schools did not have any designated special needs staff, while a further 36% did not have qualified staff in this role. The paper includes discussion of the evidence-based issues facing these schools and the system, together with a number of recommendations for improvement.
Publication Uncle Arthur’s Posthumous Rejoinder(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Rieger, WilfOne person sees a vase, another sees two black
faces looking at each other. Another image: Is
it a fashionable young lady or an old woman?
In classic figure / ground visual perception
experiments, viewers’ ‘perceptual sets’ and
their personal interests, including emphasising
some shapes and contours, may strengthen one
‘interpretation’ more than the other, according to
psychologists.
The article critiquing my Bedtime stories,
published in a recent issue of Teach journal of
Christian education,2 appears to focus on only one
interpretation, an imbalance that I believe needs
addressing. I acknowledge the critique’s generosity
(however muted) regarding certain aspects of the
Bedtime stories series and take note of some of
the perceived weaknesses in my children’s texts.
Notwithstanding that Nicholls and Reynaud write
from the vantage point of the 21st century and with
hindsight, there is merit in scrutinising the validity of
some of their arguments. Before embarking on this
task, however, it seems instructive to provide some
general context through reflecting and personal
reminiscing.
Publication Essential Skills and Attitudes for Principals in Developing Countries(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Scott, TimPublication Eternal H&S Issues(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01)Publication Spirituality in Educational Leadership: Engaging with the Research(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Gibson, AlasterThis article reviews eight research studies from literature that focus on spirituality in educational leadership. The discussion will be of interest to educational leaders across a range of sectors who intentionally value spirituality within their professional practice and institutional cultures. Spirituality is understood in the literature as a complex and contested phenomenon, the meanings of which may be shaped and reshaped by diverse perspectives and experiences. Spirituality includes personal, social-cultural and transcendent connectedness, meaning making about life and living, and a desire for greater authenticity, resulting in consistency between people’s beliefs, moral-values, attitudes and their actions. Readers are invited to reflect on their personal meanings and practice of spirituality in their leadership in the light of the research findings.
Publication Friendship on Fire(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Foster, Jessica; Brown, DenisePublication The Other Hat: Teaching Discernment in the Twenty-first Century(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Christian, Beverly J.The 21st century is placing new demands on teachers and schools. Children are growing up in a society that is characterised by exponential change, escalating social issues and everchanging technology. Because of this rapidly changing culture, our students will face challenges that do not currently exist, when they reach the workplace (Davies, McNulty & Maddox, 2011). These factors have shifted the perceived necessary skill base from knowledge based to thinking based skills such as creativity and flexibility. One area of education that is continuing to receive attention is the area of critical thinking, or mental flexibility (Davies et al., 2011). This article explores one model of teaching mental flexibility and evaluates its effectiveness for teaching discernment in a Christian environment.
Publication Building Relationships Outdoors(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Muller, DanielPublication Teachers as Miracle Workers?(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Weslake, KenPublication Fostering the Development of Empathy in the Classroom: A Strategic Response to the Problem of Bullying(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Coffen, Ronald; Fox, Jonathan; Good, Jasmine S.This article describes the development of empathy within children and provides classroom-based interventions that will foster its development. The development of empathy is a complex process involving both cognitive and affective functioning and awareness. Various perspectives of empathy are explored including what develops, when it develops, and how it develops. Cultural issues are raised that identify variations in development based on socialisation, gender, and cultural values. Abnormal development of empathy is discussed in the form of aggression and bullying. Interventions for fostering empathy within the victim and the bully and for fostering empathy within the classroom setting are described. The article concludes by placing empathy within the context of the Christian worldview of following Christ’s example and identifies the many benefits of teaching empathy in schools.
Publication A New Framework of Governance(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Campey, Paul; Bartlett, DavidThis article presents a new framework for the
governance of Christian Schools—a Community
Governance Framework that centres on the key
roles and relationships contained within that
community. Relationships are central to the
Community Governance Framework, as it is our
belief that quality healthy relationships are critical to
growing healthy Christian organisations.
Whilst there are many similarities and familiar
elements between the Community Governance
Framework and other models, the unique difference
is that the Community Governance Framework
seeks to put all the pieces of the governance puzzle
together in one place to show, in effect, what a
healthy Christian school actually looks like. The
framework has been developed through practical
experience as consultants working with the Boards
of hundreds of Christian Schools and Not for Profit
organisations.
Publication Peer Support(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Young, CraigPublication The Transformational Planning Framework: A Pathway to Holistic Biblical Teaching(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Cobbin, LanellePublication Developing a Classroom Culture of Thinking: A Whole School Approach(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Pohl, MichaelOne of the primary objectives of schooling should involve the teaching of tools for lifelong learning. As a result, many educators place a high priority on empowering students with thinking skills such as the ability to reason, to make informed judgements, to critically evaluate information, and to think both creatively and caringly. Immersion in high order thinking, therefore, should be an integral aspect of learning. This paper discusses the need for a framework that ensures this occurs in every classroom, every day.
Publication Blogging with Young Students(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Jordan, KellyPublication Editorial(Avondale Academic Press, 2011-01-01) Hibbard, LanaPublication Editorial(2005-01-01) de Berg, Kevin C.