Adolescents in the schools in South Africa have been victims of many social problems such as violence and crime as a result of background influence. They have been both victims and perpetrators of this violence. Problems of attachment to both school and home have always been blamed for the adolescents’ deviance. South African schools are affected by this verbal and physical violence which presumably emanates from learners poor connections with school and home. The background of societies such as economic deprivation has also been presumed to have an impact on the way adolescents conduct themselves in schools. There is no research that has verified the correlation between violence and attachment to bases of attachment - home and school in South Africa, especially in the Eastern Cape Province. A survey was conducted in more than ten schools in the Amathole District where 317 learners’ opinions on their observation of cases of verbal and physical violence in their schools, and on their attachment to both home and school were collected through a 40 item questionnaire. The questionnaire had five sections (a) to (e). The first section (a) required learners to enter their biographical information; gender, age, grade, and quintile classification. The second section (b) required learners to rate their attachment to their homes and to their care givers. The third section (c) required learners to rate their connectedness to their schools. The fourth section (d) required learners to supply information on their observation and involvement in verbal violence. The final section (e) with items adopted from section (d) and customised required learners to rate their observation and involvement in physical violence. Descriptive statistics were used to glean frequencies and the overall levels of attachment and violence amongst learners. The study also looked at significant differences in attachment (both family and school) and violence (both verbal and physical) using gender and socio-economic profiles of the learners and schools (quintile system) as sorting or categorising variables. One major finding which is contrary to most theory and may be as a result of social dynamics is that statistics suggested that gender and socio-economic variables had little bearing on violence and attachment. Through the use of SPSS, the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients were calculated to answer the sub-questions on the relationship between family and school attachment, and school violence (both verbal and physical). There were notable negative and positive correlations between school attachment and verbal violence; for example there was a positive correlation between teachers making learners hate school and learner-involvement in swearing. There was also a negative correlation between school buildings making learners proud and schools and homes being to blame for the frequency of verbal violence in the schools. There were also notable correlations between attachment to family and verbal violence such as the correlation between the frustration by parents’ lack of concern and learners’ involvement in verbal violence without any clear reason. With regard to physical violence there was a negative correlation between parents having time to discuss life with their children and the frequency of physical violence in the schools. There was however a negative correlation between one’s pride in one’s school and the blame on schools for instigating school violence. From these correlations implications for school violence prevention could be drawn. The study reveals that a lot needs to be done by the schools, parents, the government, and the community to enhance learner attachment to both school and home. However, for all the stake holders to succeed government must take the leading role in speeding up the process of reducing poverty in the communities. This is premised on the fact that some findings reveal that frequency of violence increases in an environment of frustration and anger. Schools as care-givers can also introduce many interventions such as counselling workshops to equip teachers with professional crisis management. The research may encourage the Department of Education and schools to adopt violence prevention programs implemented in countries (like United States of America’s Olweus bullying and violence prevention program) for use in bringing communities together to work against school violence. These findings might strengthen the South African Department of Education’s Safe Schools Programs.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organizations depend on the availability of reliable and credible information to make informed decisions and to plan effectively. The Education Management Information System (EMIS) is used by all provincial education departments including the Free State Department of Education for collecting, verifying, analysing, storing and disseminating reliable and credible data for decision making and planning purposes. Through its efforts to improve information management, the Department of Basic Education introduced the South African School Administration Management System (SA-SAMS) to improve the management of data at school level and allow for the uploading of this data onto provincial databases. This study focuses on an analysis of the Education Management Information System to determine whether this information system, utilised by the Free State Department of Education, is reliable and credible or not. In order to answer the research question under study, the dimensions/constructs of information systems success, such as information quality, system quality, individual and organizational impacts have been used to evaluate the information systems under investigation. Chapter 1 introduces the topic and outlines the background and the accountability chain of the Free State Department of Education. Chapter 2 deals with the theoretical grounding. It discusses the topic of Information Systems, in particular what the criteria used to determine the efficiency and reliability of an education management system in the Free State Province are. Chapter 3 draws on the theoretical base outlined in Chapter 2, focussing on the Free State Province to model the EMIS system and identifying the crucial elements where empirical observations are necessary. In Chapter 3 the focus is on the empirical data collection based on the model as set out in Chapter 4. In this chapter the methodological concerns in respect of the collection of data are dealt with in detail, and the findings are reported. In Chapter 4 the implications of the findings are weighed up against the criteria as identified in Chapter 2 and conclusions are drawn on that basis. Lastly Chapter 5, which draws on earlier findings, presents the lessons learnt in doing this research, conclusions drawn therefrom, as well as the recommendations presented as a way forward to improve the gaps identified in Free State EMIS. The researcher’s informed conclusion is that EMIS, through the use of SA-SAMS, has improved the capturing of data at school level and that this has contributed to an improvement in the quality of data contained in the provincial database. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Organisasies is afhanklik van die beskikbaarheid van betroubare en geloofwaardige inligting ten einde ingeligte besluite te neem en effektief te beplan. Die Onderwysbestuursinligtingstelsel (EMIS) word deur al die provinsiale onderwysdepartemente gebruik, insluitend die Vrystaatse Onderwysdepartement, vir die versameling, verifiëring, analise, berging en disseminasie van betroubare en geloofwaardige data vir die doeleindes van besluitneming en beplanning. Deur sy pogings om inligtingbestuur te verbeter, het die Departement van Basiese Onderwys die Suid-Afrikaanse Skoolbestuurstelsel (SA-SAMS) ingestel om die bestuur van data op skoolvlak te verbeter en om voorsiening te maak vir die oordrag van hierdie data na provinsiale databasisse. Hierdie studie fokus op ‘n analise van die Onderwysbestuursinligtingstelsel om vas te stel of hierdie stelsel, wat deur die Vrystaatse Onderwysdepartement gebruik word, betroubaar en geloofwaardig is, al dan nie. Ten einde die navorsingsvraag van hierdie studie te beantwoord, is die dimensies/konstrukte van die sukses van inligtingstelsels, soos inligtingskwaliteit, stelselkwaliteit, individuele en organisatoriese impak, gebruik om die betrokke inligtingstelsels te evalueer. Hoofstuk 1 lei die onderwerp in en verstrek die agtergrond en aanspreeklikheidsketting van die Vrystaatse Onderwysdepartement. Hoofstuk 2 behandel die teoretiese begronding. Die onderwerp Inligtingstelsels word bespreek, veral die kriteria wat gebruik word om die doeltreffendheid en betroubaarheid van ‘n onderwysbestuurstelsel in die Vrystaatse Provinsie te bepaal. Met die teoretiese basis wat in Hoofstuk 2 uiteengesit is as vertrekpunt, fokus Hoofstuk 3 op die Vrystaatse Provinsie om die EMIS te modelleer en om die deurslaggewende elemente waar empiriese waarnemings nodig is, te identifiseer. In Hoofstuk 3 is die fokus op die versameling van empiriese data, gebaseer op die model wat in Hoofstuk 4 beskryf word. In hierdie hoofstuk word die metodologiese vraagstukke met betrekking tot die versameling van data in besonderhede behandel, en die bevindings word aangebied. In Hoofstuk 4 word die implikasies van die bevindings gestel teenoor die kriteria wat in Hoofstuk 2 geïdentifiseer is, en gevolgtrekkings word gemaak. Laastens word in Hoofstuk 5, gebaseer op vroeëre bevindings, die lesse wat uit hierdie navorsing geleer is, aangebied, gevolgtrekkings word gemaak, en aanbevelings word voorgehou as die pad vorentoe om leemtes wat in die Vrystaatse EMIS geïdentifiseer is, te verbeter. Dit is die navorser se ingeligte gevolgtrekking dat EMIS, deur die gebruik van SASAMS, die vaslegging van data op skoolvlak verbeter het, en dat dit bygedra het tot ’n verbetering van die kwaliteit van data in die provinsiale databasis.

Dans les collèges français, la question de l’éducation fait l’objet d’un traitement assez sombre : au niveau statutaire, elle marque en effet le faible prestige de certains personnels, ou de certaines matières enseignées. C’est le cas des conseillers et assistants d’éducation, ou, sur un autre plan, de l’éducation artistique, de l’éducation civique ou de l’éducation physique et sportive. La connotation négative de l’éducation apparaît aussi dans les discours quotidiens, enclins à dénoncer des carences. L’écart social entre les membres des classes moyennes cultivées et leurs élèves ne prédit pas, cependant, le niveau de tension. La construction d’un climat d’établissement joue en effet une fonction importante ; en second lieu, les situations éducatives les moins aisées obligent précisément à réfléchir en termes éducatifs. Il en ressort souvent un meilleur climat que dans des établissements peu exposés. Dans l’imaginaire des professionnels, le collège n’aurait d’autre but que d’organiser la succession de cours entre enseignants savants et apprenants captivés. Depuis les débuts de la massification, les professeurs appliquent en réalité des pédagogies « bricolées », sans rapport avec les principes idéels. Malgré ces adaptations officieuses, les collégiens sont pénalisés par la segmentation des cours, l’étouffement de l’esprit critique, la faible intégration éducative et la relégation du « sale boulot » de discipline. Dans les établissements favorisés, l’insuffisance démocratique incite plutôt à l’utilitarisme, et au développement d’une culture juvénile anti-scolaire ; dans les collèges populaires, les élèves en échec peuvent aussi opposer une violence. / In French colleges, the issue of education is poorly treated : at the statutory level, it marks the low prestige of certain personnel, or certain subject matter being taught. This is the case with counsellors (conseillers d’éducation) and teaching assistants (assistants d’éducation) or, on another level, with arts education, civic education or physical education. Education’s negative connotation is confirmed in people’s discourse, which is inclined to report deficiencies. The social gap between members of the cultivated middle class and their students does not, however, predict the level of tension. First, the construction of a school environment indeed plays an importance role ; what’s more, the most difficult educational situations are precisely the ones that require us to think in educational terms. The result is often a better environment than in institutions with little exposure to difficulties. In the minds of professionals, French colleges have no other purpose than to organise the succession of courses between scholarly teachers and captivated learners. From the beginning of mass schooling, teachers actually apply “tinkered” pedagogies, unrelated to imaginary principles. In spite of these unofficial adaptations, students suffer from the segmentation of courses, the stifling of critical thinking, poor educational integration and the relegation of disciplinary “dirty work”. In privileged establishments, the democratic deficit rather encourages utilitarianism, and the development of an anti-school youth culture ; in lower class French colleges students who are failing may also resist through other forms of violence.

Master of Science

In an effort to determine the extent and type of usage of the libraries of the various high schools in District "M," a questionnaire was formulated. The group of students who composed the Graduate Seminar at Radford College during the Summer Session, 1950, cooperated with the study by responding to the first draft of the questionnaire; then by offering constructive criticisms. With the incorporation of their suggestions, the resulting instrument; found in Appendix "C," was mailed to all of the schools included in the study. The questionnaire was divided into two sections: first, Organization and Administration of the Library; second, Kind and Extent of Library Usage. / M.S.

This study arose from a desire to view the factors involved in Grayson County's High Schools' ability to retain youth after their 16th birthday, the compulsory attendance age. Also from a desire to view these factors in terms of rank of importance. In the process of securing data from which inferences could be drawn concerning this question the Freshman Class of 1956 was taken as the original membership group of the study. Information was obtained from members of the original membership who dropped out of school after their 16th birthday. Information was also secured from those individuals of the original membership who remained in school, since it was felt that information from both groups might be data of significance. A questionnaire submitted to all 1960 seniors of the original 1956 membership provided data used in determining factors in completion. A questionnaire was also submitted to all terminators of the original 1956 membership and provided data used in determining factors in termination. The data from questionnaires from completors and terminators were tabled, tabulated and ranked according to frequency. Those factors having the greater frequencies were considered most important in a descending scale of importance. As a final phase of the study, general statements are made concerning apparent need for improvement in the Grayson County School system. Recommendations are made applying not only to Grayson County Schools but to any school system with the problem of termination. / M.S.

This study is primarily an attempt to discover the trends to be found in professional magazines published during the period from 1950 to 1956, inclusive, relating to classroom control and having particular reference to high school situations. It emerged from an awareness of the importance of maintaining conditions conducive to teaching and learning in the individual teacher’s classroom; as well as in other instructional centers such as the laboratory, shop, or workroom, all of Which are actually types of classrooms. It is in such situations that assignments are made, instructions given, examinations taken, and working relationships between teacher and students developed. / M.S.

At its inception, it was the purpose of this study to appraise the extent to which democratic methods were being practiced by certain Virginian elementary school administrators as they and their faculties formed, regulated, and implemented school policies and procedures. In order to construct instruments which would measure the extent to which democratic principles were being observed, it was necessary to list some of the specific ways in which administrators and teachers tended to work together. Graduate students and prominent people in the field of elementary education helped to identify those aspects of the administrator-teacher relationship. A city school system in Southside Virginia was selected to provide the background of the investigation, also the school personnel to respond to the research instruments planned for use in this study. Those two instruments, one for elementary teachers and the other for elementary principals, were constructed, again, with the aid of members of the Graduate Seminar at Radford College, and of prominent educators. A search of the literature in the field of elementary administration resulted in the selection of the one criterion used in the study, as follows: A thoroughly democratic administration is needed to insure a successful and happy school. / M.S.

M.S.

Die Dissertation umfasst vier Aufsätze zur ökonomischen Analyse von Bildung und Ungleichheit. Der erste Aufsatz zeigt, dass zwischen 1993 und 2013 der Anteil des Einkommens, der für das Wohnen ausgegeben wird, für das unterste Einkommensquintil stark anstieg, während er für das oberste Quintil zurückging. Dies kann durch einen Rückgang der Kosten des Wohneigentums im Vergleich zu den Mieten, sowie Veränderungen der Haushaltsstruktur und der regionalen Mobilität erklärt werden. Im Vergleich zu älteren Kohorten geben jüngere Kohorten im gleichen Alter einen höheren Anteil ihres Einkommens für das Wohnen aus und sparen weniger, mit möglicherweise negativen Auswirkungen auf den Vermögensaufbau. Der zweite Aufsatz analysiert Bildungswege von Schulabgängern mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund. Es wird zuerst eine „Polarisierung“ dokumentiert: Migranten besuchen häufiger eine tertiäre Ausbildung, seltener eine berufliche Ausbildung und bleiben häufiger ohne qualifizierte Ausbildung als es ihr Hintergrund vorhersagen würde. Dies kann durch die stärker akademisch orientierten Karrierepläne der Migranten erklärt werden, die unterschiedliche Effekte für gering- und hochqualifizierte Schüler haben. Der dritte Aufsatz untersucht die kausalen Effekte des Besuchs eines beruflichen Gymnasiums verglichen mit dem eines allgemeinbildenden Gymnasiums. Nach Berücksichtigung der Selektion finden sich keine Auswirkungen auf den Abschluss des Abiturs, ein kleiner negativer Effekt auf die Studierneigung, sowie positive Effekte auf Karriereplanung und Arbeitsmarktergebnisse. Der vierte Aufsatz untersucht Veränderungen der intergenerationalen Mobilität für westdeutsche Geburtskohorten 1944-1986. Er dokumentiert eine steigende Ungleichheit der Bildungsbeteiligung und der Arbeitsmarktergebnisse abhängig vom sozialen Hintergrund der Eltern. Diese Ergebnisse ändern sich nicht wesentlich, wenn ``zweite Chancen'' im deutschen Schul- und Hochschulsystem berücksichtigt werden. / This dissertation includes four essays on the economic analysis of education and inequality. The first essay shows that, between 1993 and 2013, the income share of housing expenditures in Germany increased strongly for the bottom income quintile and fell for the top quintile. These trends are driven by a decline in the costs of homeownership versus renting, changes in household structure, and residential mobility toward larger cities. Younger cohorts spend more on housing, and save less, than older cohorts did at the same age, with possibly negative consequences for wealth accumulation. The second essay analyzes post-school transitions among native and migrant pupils. Conditional on parental background, cognitive skills, and school fixed effects, there is a ``polarization'' of educational choices: migrants are more likely to attend tertiary education, less likely to attend vocational education, and more likely to end without qualified training than their background and skills would predict. This is driven by the migrant pupils' more academically oriented career plans, which have different effects for low- and high-skilled migrants. The third essay studies the causal effects of attending a vocational compared to a general higher secondary school. Identification uses both a selection-on-observables strategy including detailed pre-treatment controls as well as instrumental variable estimations. After adjusting for selection, attending a vocational higher secondary school has no effect on higher secondary graduation, a small negative effect on university attendance, as well as positive effects on career planning and labour market outcomes. The fourth essay analyzes changes in intergenerational mobility for West German birth cohorts 1944-1986. It documents rising gaps in educational and labour market outcomes between children of different parental socio-economic status. These patterns also hold after considering ``second chance'' options in Germany's education system.