The Scottish context of L.M. Montgomery

This thesis is the first full-length study to assess the impact of the Scottish diaspora in Canada through the writing of Canadian author L.M. Montgomery [1874-1942], Scottish legacies are key to Montgomery's identity, and a pivotal force in her writing.L.M. Montgomery's clan and community genealogies are retraced in a threefold examination of roots. Family legends are analysed with reference to Scottish migration to Prince Edward Island, Montgomery's native province and favoured fictional setting. This thesis aims to provide a more accurate picture of Montgomery's background, and questions some of her assumptions about her Lowland Scots heritage. Integral to each strand is the Canadian context that endorses Montgomery's Scots progenitors as "a chosen people".This legacy becomes the central motif in Montgomery's fiction. This thesis establishes a new critical framework to facilitate the study of this superiority complex, classifying Montgomery's books as either community or clan novels. It argues that Montgomery's first novel, Anne of Green Gables [1908], is not a model for all her subsequent fiction, only those books where community is primary. She diversifies from the "Anne" genre in novels where clan is central, and Scottish family history and folklore increasingly important. This trend is consolidated in the autobiographical "Emily" trilogy, where Scottish roots are expressly an essential component of the heroine's Canadian identity.L.M. Montgomery achieved commercial success partly by attuning her work to existing literary markets. Her antecedents in popularjuvenile literature are significant, but her books and stories also appealed to an adult audience conversant with "local color" writing. This thesis finds parallels between Montgomery's "regional idylls" and those of the popular Scottish authors, J.M. Barrie and Ian Maclaren. Montgomery perceives elements of her Canadian childhood in their books, but adds ironic subtexts when echoing the "Kailyard" world in her fiction.The Scottish milieu in Montgomery's work is neither static nor sentimental. The First World War had an enormous impact on Montgomery personally and on Canadian society. Montgomery's fiction grapples with a new focus on national identity instigated in post-war Canada. In some books, old country antecedents recede, or become contrived. More often, Montgomery imports a darker, more divisive, and less idealistic Scottish heritage, particularly as regards Scottish Presbyterianism.In the inter-war years, Montgomery advocated the preservation of family lore and oral history in order to protect and celebrate Canadian diversity. Scottish customs—Presbyterian faith, folk beliefs, literary and linguistic traditions, clan and community connections—lie at the heart of her Canadian romance and Canadian realism

Review of research and evaluation on improving adult literacy and numeracy skills

The purposes of this literature review are threefold. First, this review summarises findings of the research from the last decade in six fields identified by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) as critical to its forward planning: (1) the economic, personal and social returns to learning; (2) the quality and effectiveness of provision; (3) the number of learning hours needed for skills gain; (4) learner persistence; (5) the retention and loss of skills over time; (6) the literacy and numeracy skills that are needed. Second, this review assesses this evidence base in terms of its quality and robustness, identifying gaps and recommending ways in which the evidence base can be extended and improved. Thirdly, this review attempts to interpret the evidence base to suggest, where possible, how returns to ALN learning for individuals, employers and wider society might be increased through effective and cost-effective interventions

The voices of death doulas about their role in end-of-life care

Miller-Lewis, LR ORCiD: 0000-0001-6013-130X'Death Doulas' have emerged as a relatively new role supporting dying people and their family members; however there is a lack of clarity around how the role is enacted, and around the death doula role within health and social care systems. This study aimed to explore the ambiguity of the role of death doulas in end-of-life care including the skills, training and experience of death doulas; how the role is communicated to the community; and the relationships to palliative care providers and other health professionals. People identifying as death doulas were invited to participate in an online survey between April and June 2018. Ethical approval was obtained. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, and purposive sampling was used to survey death doulas registered with death doula training organisations, newsletters and email distribution lists. Questions were based on the researchers' previous findings about the role. One hundred and ninety completed or partially completed surveys were received. Results showed diversity within, and some commonalities across the sample in terms of: training, experience and skills; Death doulas have emerged not only as a response to the overwhelming demands on families and carers, but also demands placed on health care professionals (including palliative care) at the end-of-life. They have identified gaps in health and social care provision, perhaps taking on tasks that health professionals don't have responsibility for. However, the roles and scope of practice of death doulas is not clear-cut even within their cohort, which can then make it hard for patients and families when choosing a death doula, especially as a lack of regulation and standardised training means that doulas are working without oversight, and often in isolation

End-of-life doulas: A qualitative analysis of interviews with Australian and international death doulas on their role

Death doulas (DD) are working with people at the end of life in varied roles with more clarity needed around their role and place within the health and social care systems. The aim of this work is to explore the DD role in end-of-life care from the perspective of DDs. A sub-group of 20 DDs from a larger quantitative survey participated in semi-structured telephone Skype or Zoom interviews. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. Seven themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: what a DD offers, what a DD does, challenges and barriers, occupational preferences, family support, contract of service/fee and regulation. There is a general perception that healthcare professionals (HCP) do not understand what it is that DDs do; thus, the current study has helped to demystify the DD role and potentially reduce suspicion. The lack of a DD business model sees inconsistencies in what services each DD offers and what patients and families can expect. End of life is complex and confusing for patients and families and there is a need to further explore the DD role and how it can work when there are many inconsistencies in working practice. More research is required to look at the interplay among DDs, HCPs and palliative care volunteers in addressing the gaps in care provision and how these relationships might be more seamlessly managed. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Lt