Stand-downs, suspensions and exclusions : a dilemma for primary school principals : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Educational Administration, Department of Social and Policy Studies in Education, College of Education, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

The purpose of this study was to investigate how a selection of primary school principals managed and viewed the process of stand-downs, suspensions and exclusions. The researcher saw the need for such research because of the recent legislation that has changed the procedures for principals to follow, the growing public concern over the national statistics for disciplinary exclusions and the lack of research on disciplinary exclusions of primary age pupils or for principals' perspectives of the disciplinary exclusion process. The research involved two main research methods (survey and case-study) which included a postal questionnaire distributed to all primary school principals in a localised area, a review of their Education Review Office Reports, structured interviews of five primary school principals and a review of their Behaviour Management Plans. These data were analysed with the aid of computer software packages: MICROSOFT EXCEL for the quantitative data and QSR NU*DIST for the qualitative data; and techniques of thematic induction and dilemma analysis were used. The characteristics and behaviours of the primary age pupils receiving disciplinary exclusions in this study are an accentuated version of the trends of gender and ethnicity factors already identified for all New Zealand school pupils in the national database. This study also isolated other characteristics - the final year of school (either at primary or intermediate) and the transference of these pupils at-risk of disciplinary exclusions from school to school. Disciplinary exclusions can be attributed to many interacting complex factors related to individuals, families, schools and the direct impact of changing economic and educational government policies and legislation. It was evident that principals worked hard at maintaining and providing an education for extremely difficult pupils but these pupils presented a dilemma for principals. On the one hand, principals' comments showed that caring principals and hardworking teaching staff went out of their way to support and educate these seriously misbehaving pupils in their schools, but, on the other hand, principals perceived that they had no other choice but to use the disciplinary exclusion process. The concept of'dilemma' was developed further in this study with implications for principals' future practice and professional development and further research

Accountability in Global Governance

human development, democracy

The spatial diffusion of extramural studies within New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University

The diffusion of the Extramural Studies programme within New Zealand is seen to have its genesis in the social space of the occupational structures from which the extramural population is drawn. Statistical analysis of data derived from an Extramural Questionnaire Survey of 2000 students during 1979 investigates the relationships between student standard characteristics, their reasons for study, their geographical locations and their sources of information. While the reason why people choose to study extramurally is clearly linked to non-spatial variables the outcome of their decision, however, is reflected in physical space. By constructing a series of maps and related graphs at various levels of aggregation the diffusion patterns of total enrolments and selected subject enrolments are recorded at five-yearly intervals over the last two decades. Regression analysis, based on data for 1976. shows that although there is no significant relationship between distance from Palmerston North and total extramural enrolment, there is a positive relationship between population size and total enrolment. Subject enrolments are tested by means of the Chi-square test at three different levels - between Islands, between regions, between counties and urban areas. These tests indicate that there are significant relationships between some areas and the number of enrolments in various subjects. Although the study is able to describe both the spatial and non-spatial characteristics of the extramural population and to provide some explanation for the pattern of enrolments it cannot provide a basis for any detailed prediction of future regional enrolments. The degree to which these can be predicted is limited by the nature and size of the potential population of extramural students which in turn is dependent on social and economic trends in society. At present, it can only be concluded that unless there is a major change in New Zealand's space-economy extramural enrolments will, in general, continue to coincide with the distribution of the national population

Fact or Fiction? Hate Crime in Sweden and it's Representations in Swedish Popular Culture

Sweden’s global representation suggests that it is one of the most gender- equal, open and forward- thinking countries in the world. This thesis, however, exposes Sweden’s darker side, where hate crime towards immigrants, women and homosexuals is a serious social and political issue. Through a case study analysis of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy and Swedish white power music, this thesis examines the role of popular culture in the dissemination of ideas, protest against cultural and political norms, and the way in which it exposes ideologies which threaten the Swedish global image. This thesis finds that popular culture is a valuable medium through which the ideology of hatred can be studied. It finds that Swedish artists and authors use popular culture to convey their concerns about society but that it is also used as a tool through which hate ideology can be disseminated throughout society too

Teaching Computer Skills to Senior Citizens: A Library Assistant’s Learning Experience

This paper describes the challenges of teaching senior citizens in their 70s and 80s elementary Web and computer skills at the University of Georgia’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Simple tasks such as clicking on links and understanding the difference between the address bar and a search box confused class members and the instructor attempted to address this age divide by developing activities that would make using the Web easier and more fun

You Deserve the Truth: Helping students understand the causes and consequences of fake news

Can dandelions cure cancer? Is Bill Murray running for President? Was a pizza place in New Jersey running a human trafficking ring? In this age of digital and social media it may be difficult for students to differentiate between authoritative information and fake news. After a brief presentation on the history of fake news and its prevalence in social media, workshop participants (acting as an early college seminar class) will watch a video about the PizzaGate incident and discuss the phenomenon of fake news, why people create it, and why people share it. Next the class will develop a fake news checklist. In the next activity, we will break the class into groups, give each group a fake news story, and ask them to evaluate the story’s legitimacy and which indicators point to the story being real or fake. Then a representative of each group will teach the rest of the class about their news story. At the end of the workshop, we will come back together and discuss the real world consequences of fake news and ways that students can prevent its spread. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of fake news, how to identify it when they see it, and with ideas about how to teach students to spot fake news and avoid it

Driving and Advanced Age

Background: Advanced aged people continue to use their vehicles, utlising them for a wide variety of purposes. Within that age group female drivers from both New Zealand Maori and non-Maori are predominantly noticeable. Method: Following the first wave of the LiLAC Study the present study examined the results of the Transport and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living sub-sections involving New Zealand Maori aged between 75-95 years and non-Maori participants only aged 85 years. Questions asked of the recipients involved whether they had ever driven, did the still drive, how often and how far they drove in a typical week; and why they drove. Analysis of the results were conducted using a scaled questionnaire, binomial logistic regression, chi-square tests for association, ordinal logistic regression and descriptive analysis.Results: Participant number totalled 931 with 421 New Zealand Maori and 510 New Zealand Maori non-Maori. New Zealand Maori: Nearly double the number of females had ever driven. Of those who do drive both male (73) and female (69) indicated that they did, although females also offered the service of driving to both family and non-family members. Females also presented 1.028 higher odds of having ever driven a car. However, as New Zealand Maori aged a reduction in having ever driven was shown in the results (0.688). Typical weekly use of the car by New Zealand Maori males was grouped (p-value = 0.063), whereas female Maori took the car out daily. Increase in age was found not to be associated with how often New Zealand Maori drove. The odds ratio of Maori males was greater than that of females (p-value = 0.463), similarly with age (p-value = 0.192). In comparison both male and female covered a wide distance, although most noticeable were ones made 1.5-25 kilometres.New Zealand non-Maori: New Zealand non-Maori like New Zealand Maori females were also in the majority as to the number having ever driven. Of those still driving a higher number of males (154) compared to female (136) non-Maori were shown to be still driving. However, unlike New Zealand Maori, none of the non-Maori indicated that they offered their driving services to someone else. Typical weekly driving scores between male and female were not statistically significant different (p = 0.201). Median driving distances for male and female were the same (3.00). A varied use of the car was apparent by both New Zealand Maori and non-Maori.Conclusion: Maintaining independence is of primary concern to both New Zealand Maori and non-Maori. To enable this population group to remain as a contributing part of their community further research is required into their decision making, the licensing procedure and surrounding support facilities

Use of another Driver or other form of Transport by People of an Advanced Age

Background: A comparable number of advanced aged New Zealand Maori and non-Maori are presently driven by someone else or use other forms of transport.Method: Everyday Interests and Activities – Transport subsection of the LiLAC study provided the question area for analysis. Enquiry focused on whether older people did use private car transport driven by someone else, were questioned who was their most regular driver, how often did someone else drive them in a typical week and what distance they drove in a typical journey, whether they had used other forms of transportation, if they had problems obtaining their groceries and did they provide transport in the form of car/assistance for others Methods of analysis included binomial logistic regression, chi-square test for association, ordinal logistic regression, Mann-Whitney U test and descriptive analysis.Results: Participants totaled 931 with 421 New Zealand Maori and 510 New Zealand Maori non-Maori.New Zealand Maori: A higher ratio of New Zealand Maori males were transported making use of their daughter. Most of such trips were made only once a week with more males travelling between 1.5-20.5 kilometres, while both males and females covered longer distances of 25.5-80+ kilometres. New Zealand Maori were not seen to have not made use of other forms of transport in the last twelve months and very rarely had any problem obtaining their groceries. New Zealand Maori females aided other members of the family, while New Zealand Maori males provided such a service to people outside of their family.New Zealand non-Maori: Similarly, New Zealand non-Maori males were also seen to have made greater use of private transport provided by their daughter. In comparison there was almost a 50:50 split between those New Zealand non-Maori females who did and those who did-not make use of such a service. Of those who did such a service was primarily provided by their spouse followed by their daughter. Like New Zealand Maori, non-Maori New Zealanders generally only made use of such transport once a week or not at all. Trips taken by either male and female New Zealand non-Maori was firstly between 1.5-8, and then between 8.2-20.5 kilometres. More New Zealand non-Maori males had use of other forms of transport; while again there was practically a 50:50 split between those females who did and those who did not. Like New Zealand Maori, New Zealand non-Maori male and female very rarely had any problem obtaining their groceries. Both New Zealand non-Maori males and females were seen to provide care/assistance for that outside of the family. Conclusion: Although as is often expected the majority both New Zealand Maori and New Zealand non-Maori representatives were seen to utilise family (daughters and spouse) for transportation. However, use of such a provision was generally restricted to only once a week and in assessing distance, consideration also needs to be made of respondent geographical location, especially in line with placement of main services. However, despite the use of such a transportation facility independent mobility remained with both rural and urban population groups. Future older generations will have experienced a closer relationship with motor vehicle use. Consequently, any transportation policy needs to be designed in line with sustaining the provision of goods, services, employment, social opportunities and membership of the community

Public Transport Used by People of Advanced Age

Background: Both New Zealand M?ori and non-Maori males were most notable in the number who did not make use of public transport in the last twelve months. Method: Transport subsection of the LiLAC study provided the question area for analysis. Enquiry focused on whether older people had travelled on public transport in the last twelve months, how often they made use of the service and why they did not employ such facility. Methods of analysis included binomial logistic regression, Mann-Whitney U test, regression analysis and descriptive analysis.Results: Participants totaled 931 with 421 New Zealand Maori and 510 New Zealand Maori non-Maori.New Zealand Maori: The greater majority of New Zealand Maori signified that they did not use public transport. Of those that did, it was the females either on their own or with some difficulty. Of those that had engaged the service, (83-88 years), it was only once a week. Reasons given for not using public transport comprised primarily revolved around personal choice and knowledge of possible facilities. Other reasons given included continued use of a car, again not wanting to, no available facilities, family, health and the use of other methods of transportation.New Zealand non-Maori: A significant number of male New Zealand non-Maori indicated that had not used the service in the last twelve months. Although of those that did, a comparable number of both male and female non-Maori had similarly either completed the journey on their own or with difficulty. When asked how often they used the service, the majority indicated that they did not. Reasons being routes either not going where respondents wanted or needed to go; and females expressing concern about accessible bus stops or were inconvenient to use. Conclusion: National and/or local government have the opportunity to make improvements in route design, scheduling and diversity in type of bus being made available with the present and future growth of the older population. Also, in line with future developments such authorities could similarly work in conjunction with other providers such as service groups like Lions and Rotary; Retired Serviceman/women Association, Workingmen’s Clubs, Age Concern, Driving Miss Daisy, private organisations, taxi firms, or the provision of Uber sharing, in considering the type and style of public transport being made available to the public