Understanding decentralization: deconcentration and devolution processes in the French and Italian cultural sectors

none3noPurpose – Decentralization is a widespread and international phenomenon in public administration. Despite the interest of public management scholars, an in-depth analysis of the interrelationship between two of its forms – deconcentration and devolution – and its impact on policy and management capacities at the local level is seldom investigated. Design/methodology/approach – This article addresses this gap by examining the implementation of deconcentration and devolution processes in France and Italy in the cultural field, combining the analysis of national reform processes with in-depth analyses of two regional cases. The research is the result of document analysis, participatory observation and semi-structured interviews. Findings – The article reconstructs the impacts of devolution and deconcentration processes on the emergence of policy and management capacity in two regions (Rhone-Alpes and Piedmont) in the cultural sector. The article shows that decentralization in the cultural sector in France and Italy is the result of different combinations of devolution and deconcentration processes, that the two processes mutually affect their effectiveness, and that this effectiveness is deeply linked to the previous policy and management capacity of the central state in a specific field/country. Originality/value – The article investigates decentralization as a result of the combination of deconcentration and devolution in comparative terms and in a specific sector of implementation, highlighting the usefulness of this approach also for other sectors/countries.mixedSantagati, Maria Elena; Bonini Baraldi, Sara; Zan, LucaSantagati, Maria Elena; Bonini Baraldi, Sara; Zan, Luc

Juventude negra, Ensino Médio e democracia: a luta pela escola

O presente trabalho apresenta dados etnográficos de uma pesquisa dedoutorado realizada em escola pública na zona norte de São Paulo. Narealidade pesquisada, as garotas negras tiveram um papel importante naorganização e manutenção do movimento de ocupação ocorrido no finalde 2015. Nesse artigo, pretendemos evidenciar como a presença da culturanegra no currículo escolar de uma instituição de ensino médio, junto a outraspolíticas de valorização e reconhecimento dessa cultura, pode ter contribuídopara a articulação dessas jovens na decisão sobre o movimento. A ocupaçãose deu em meio a uma movimentação maior ocorrida no estado de São Pauloem 2015, tendo como principais objetivos: a) resistir à reforma do ensinomédio anunciada pela Secretaria de Educação do Estado de São Paulo e b)reivindicar uma escola mais democrática, que reconheça as diferenças epossibilite a participação das jovens nos processos de decisão. A pesquisarealizada nessa unidade escolar tem como fundamentação teórica os estudosda sociologia da educação e os estudos antirracistas. Realizou-se, através deobservações e entrevistas semiestruturadas com estudantes e docentes antes,durante e após o período de ocupação. Percebe-se que apesar das dificuldades,como perseguições à docentes e estudantes que participaram e apoiaram omovimento, o processo de ocupação contribuiu para a constituição de saberesfundamentais para a construção de um pensamento democrático, antirracistae feminista na instituição

The Australian National Curriculum: The 2012 Reformation

The study presented here is part of the results of postdoctoral research that aimed to investigate the approved curriculum reform in 2012 and implemented in Australia since then In addition to seeking to know the organization and functioning of the Australian education system this article intends specifically to explain the process of building the country s national curriculum and identify the dynamics and foundations of the current reform The methodology used for this research was based on a qualitative descriptive and analytical approach based on bibliographic and documentary analysi

LiSc(BH_4)_4 as a Hydrogen Storage Material: Multinuclear High-Resolution Solid-State NMR and First-Principles Density Functional Theory Studies

A lithium salt of anionic scandium tetraborohydride complex, LiSc(BH_4)_4, was studied both experimentally and theoretically as a potential hydrogen storage medium. Ball milling mixtures of LiBH_4 and ScCl_3 produced LiCl and a unique crystalline hydride, which has been unequivocally identified via multinuclear solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to be LiSc(BH_4)_4. Under the present reaction conditions, there was no evidence for the formation of binary Sc(BH_4)_3. These observations are in agreement with our first-principles calculations of the relative stabilities of these phases. A tetragonal structure in space group I (#82) is predicted to be the lowest energy state for LiSc(BH_4)_4, which does not correspond to structures obtained to date on the crystalline ternary borohydride phases made by ball milling. Perhaps reaction conditions are resulting in formation of other polymorphs, which should be investigated in future studies via neutron scattering on deuterides. Hydrogen desorption while heating these Li−Sc−B−H materials up to 400 °C yielded only amorphous phases (besides the virtually unchanged LiCl) that were determined by NMR to be primarily ScB_2 and [B_(12)H_(12)]^(−2) anion containing (e.g., Li_2B_(12)H_(12)) along with residual LiBH_4. Reaction of a desorbed LiSc(BH_4)_4 + 4LiCl mixture (from 4LiBH_4/ScCl_3 sample) with hydrogen gas at 70 bar resulted only in an increase in the contents of Li_2B_(12)H_(12) and LiBH_4. Full reversibility to reform the LiSc(BH_4)_4 was not found. Overall, the Li−Sc−B−H system is not a favorable candidate for hydrogen storage applications

Video Game–Based Exercise, Latino Children's Physical Health, and Academic Achievement

BackgroundThere is a paucity of research investigating the effects of innovative physical activity programs on physical health and academic performance in the Latino population.PurposeTo examine the impact of Dance Dance Revolution [DDR]–based exercise on Latino children's physical fitness and academic achievement.DesignA repeated-measures crossover design was used. In Year 1, Grade-4 students were assigned to the intervention group and offered 30 minutes of exercise (DDR, aerobic dance) three times per week. Grade-3 and Grade-5 students made up the comparison group and were offered no structured exercise at school. In Year 2, the Grade-4 students were again assigned to the intervention, whereas Grade-5 and Grade-6 students were in the comparison group.Setting/participantsAssessments were conducted with 208 Latino school children.Main outcome measuresThe baseline measures included time to complete a 1-mile run, BMI, and reading and math scores. Data were collected again 9 months later. Overall, data were collected in 2009–2011 and analyzed in 2012.ResultsData yielded significant differences between the intervention and comparison groups in differences in 1-mile run and math scores in Year 1 and Year 2. The results also revealed net differences in the intervention versus comparison group scores on the 1-mile run for Grade 3 (p<0.01). Additionally, children's yearly pre-test and post-test BMI group changes differed (χ2(2)=6.6, p<0.05) only for the first year of intervention.ConclusionsThe DDR-based exercise intervention improved children's cardiorespiratory endurance and math scores over time. Professionals should consider integrating exergaming at schools to achieve the goals of promoting a physically active lifestyle and enhancing academic success among Latino children

Standardized Patients in Occupational Therapy Education

The use of standardized patients (SPs) in occupational therapy (OT) education has greatly increased in recent years; however, there is limited research on the perceptions of student’s clinical readiness utilizing SPs and whether or not the utilization of SPs prepare students for fieldwork. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of SPs in OT education and the perceived clinical readiness of students. The use of SPs has been thoroughly researched in other healthcare related fields. It is important that the same critical attention be given to their use in our own field, which emphasizes the importance of clinical readiness in the development of future professionals. A survey was given to the OT students of Dominican University of California who have had experience with the curriculum, which utilizes SPs. Students were asked to rate their own perceptions of readiness in a number of skills, which were practiced using SPs. Students were also asked to answer qualitative questions regarding their experiences in the simulated environment with SPs. Results indicated that four common themes emerged to the perceptions on the effectiveness of SPs. The use of SPs helped implement observational skills, bring classroom information to practical experience, identified the impact of secondary health conditions/comorbidity, and had effect on student performance due to anxiety. Further studies should be conducted to support this growing area of OT education

Photography, curriculum and daily routine at school

This text is about the use of photography as a methodological resource in the study of the daily routine at a high school in a town in the state of São Paulo countryside. The main objective of the research was to investigate the way in which the high school curriculum was experienced in the institution. Besides the analysis of the documents related to the curriculum reforms and the material from the school records, the Oral History methodology was used in the research, in order to investigate the actions of the multiple subjects involved in the educational process. From the photographic material and the observation of the school daily routine, it was possible to understand the meanings given to each one of them in the institution and the significance of actions. This work is intended to discuss the possibilities and limitations of studies including the use of daily routines at schools, based on the Oral History methodology. It also brings a discussion on the use of images as a privileged kind of language when collecting information from young students.Este texto discute o uso da fotografia como recurso metodológico no estudo do cotidiano de uma escola de Ensino Médio no interior de São Paulo. A pesquisa teve como objetivo central investigar o modo pelo qual o currículo de nível médio se realizava no âmbito da instituição. Além das análises de documentos relativos às reformas curriculares e de materiais levantados no arquivo da escola, a pesquisa valeu-se da metodologia da história oral para investigar as ações dos múltiplos sujeitos envolvidos no processo educativo. A partir do material fotográfico e da observação do cotidiano da escola, foi possível compreender os significados que a instituição possui para cada um deles e os sentidos de suas ações. Neste trabalho, pretendo discutir as possibilidades e os limites de pesquisas que trabalham com o cotidiano escolar apoiadas na metodologia acima referida, bem como o uso da imagem como linguagem privilegiada na coleta de depoimentos dos jovens estudantes.14916