Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-201). / Electronic reproduction. / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xiii, 201 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

M.Ed. / Truancy, which according to Thompson and Rudolph (1992:513), is a deliberate absence from school without a valid reason, is a problem that probably dates back to the initial institution of large scale formal schooling. Although it may seem obvious that the reason for truancy is related to the fact that the truant prefers to be elsewhere, or that he finds the school an unpleasant place to be, the underlying reasons for truancy are more difficult to pinpoint. Research conducted in 1991 and 1992 in the United Kingdom (O'Keefe, 1994:48), and which included 150 schools, revealed that a significant number of pupils of compulsory school—going age become involved in truancy. Statistics reported by the research team themselves, based on a survey which involved questionnaires, suggested that if the results of their survey could be extrapolated to all schools, then a 95 per cent confidence interval for the mean truancy level in schools, is between 29.7 per cent and 32.4 per cent. About two thirds (68%), of all schools should have truancy levels between 22.7 per cent and 39.3 per cent, and 96 per cent of all schools should have levels between 14.4 per cent and 47.4 per cent. If these statistics could be used as a guide to estimate an average of truants per school, the enormity of the prevalence of truancy becomes evident. According to McWhirter and McWhirter (1993:58), truants tend to have what is termed a "dropouts perspective". They claim that dropouts inter alia tend to leave school for the following reasons: * a dislike for school, with the opinion that school is boring and not relevant to their needs * low academic achievement and poor grades * poverty, a desire to work full-time, and a need for money, and * a lack of belonging and a sense that nobody cares about them Some of these attributes might thus also obtain for many truants. Paterson (Wardaugh, 1990: 744), proposes two broad categories of truants, namely the "endangered" truant (also termed the delinquent or morally endangered truant), and the "fearful" truant (also termed the school phobic or abused truant). The "endangered" truant is prone to falling into trouble when absent from school, while the "fearful" truant wishes to go to school, but is afraid to do so. Truancy is also listed by Kapp (1990:119) as one of the behaviours manifested by juvenile delinquents along with various other delinquencies such as theft, running away from home, use and distribution of drugs, burglary, vandalism, assault and robbery, thus suggesting that truancy is associated with these misdemeanours. Healy (Tyerman, 1968:10), notes that truancy is the root of all these misbehaviours, and he described truancy as "the kindergarten of crime". In 1944 Burt (1944:455) already referred to truancy as "the first step on the downward stair to crime". According to Hersov and Berg (1980:67), truancy is a reliable predictor of difficulties in later life. They also report that school truancy significantly predicts four subsequent child events: being held back in elementary school, dropping out of high school,leaving the parental home before the age of 18, and marriage before the age of 18. Thus, it would appear that the prognosis for truants in terms of completing their schooling, securing stable employment and fulfilling responsible citizenship, without being a burden to their future spouses, families, communities and the state, is rather uncertain. Against this background, there can be little argument that the phenomenon of truancy is serious enough to warrant a counseling programme that will be effective in treating truants in the light of their problems in such a way that they will obtain a balanced perspective of the value of regular school attendance. In South Africa, the incidence of truancy, in the old racially biased provincial education schooling system of the House of Assembly (HOA), could be measured quite accurately, simply by consulting the class register over a period of time. Through investigating the circumstances surrounding the absenteeism the teacher could quite easily determine whether such circumstances met the criteria for classification of such absentees as truants. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the schools which were under the jurisdiction of the former Department of Education and Training (DET), of which the researcher was an employee for a number of years. Not only were records of attendance not kept properly in many instances to be able to determine how often a pupil was absent, but even if attendance records had been kept properly, the possible reasons for staying away from school, such as political violence, intimidation, and caring for younger siblings, do also not meet the criteria for classifying such an absentee as a truant. What is however also true, is that large numbers of former DET pupils could have exploited the prevailing situation at the time and could have stayed away from school for reasons that may well have qualified them as truants. Many schools served by the former House of Delegates (HOD), and the former House of Representatives (HOR), were, maybe, just as seriously affected by the political climate as the DET schools. The level of absenteeism related to unrest situations in the former HOD and HOR schools makes it just as difficult to distinguish between the "truants" and the "bona fide" absentees during those turbulent times. For this reason it was decided to restrict the scope of the present study to truants in schools which traditionally fell under the provincial education system of the former House of Assembly.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the demographic characteristics and validate reasons why parents in Virginia choose home schooling to educate their children. Approximately 300 approved parents in Virginia are currently providing home schooling for their children. A questionnaire and interview schedule was developed to provide information on the characteristics and reasons associated with this form of alternative educational program being provided by parents. This descriptive study addresses the population of parents in Virginia who educate their children at home. A questionnaire was sent to 100 randomly selected group of parents who are approved by the state to teach their children at home. Additionally, an interview was conducted with 10 randomly selected parents from this total population who received the questionnaire. The data in the study consisted of responses by 74 parents. Data was tabulated and reported using descriptive and inferential status. all computations were done on an IBM computer using the statistical package for the social services (SPSSX). The following are the conclusions made as a result of the findings: As participants in home schooling, parents believe that public/private schools are a threat to their children's moral character. Also, that home schooling provides a better learning environment since parents are able to give more time (individual attention) and love to their children while learning. Major reasons for home schooling are lack of good moral and character development public poor quality of public school education and desire to extend parent-child contact. General characteristics of parents revealed by the responses indicate parents are small family structured averaging two children, upper incomes, providing a more child-centered program. / Ed. D.

董辉. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 290-306) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Dong Hui.

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Diploma thesis deals with pupils from socially excluded localities and their education. The theoretical part defines the term socially excluded locality and deals with distinctive features that influence the situation of people living here. The Roma minority, which is often associated with social exclusion, is also characterised, and unfortunately is still frequently represented in socially excluded localities. The main topic is a socially disadvantaged pupil, their needs and current educational opportunities are taken into account. Special attention is given to Roma children and pupils with regard to cultural and ethnic specifics. The practical part is processed in the form of 12 case studies describing individual families from socially excluded localities and their attitude to children's education. The main objective of the research was to identify barriers that influence the education of their children from the parents' point of view. Partial objectives focus on other circumstances that families may have to limit access to school in relation to their social situation. The results of the research point to a close connection between the unfavorable social situation of the family, when these circumstances have a negative effect to the school education of children. Parents themselves perceive these...

This essay will address the introduction of programming as an element in the compulsory school curriculum and examine the extent to which teachers have been affected by the introduction of programming in curriculaand syllabi. The essay is based on two questions: "What difficulties and opportunities have arisen in the teaching after programming was implemented in the syllabus?" and "What forms of pedagogy can teachers use to best support the development of logical thinking, problem solving, creativity and a structured approach through programming skills?". The questions are answered using scientific literature and analysis of previous scientific research. The results of the study are, among other things, that there is a great deal of uncertainty in how programming should be implemented in the students' syllabi, but also how the teachers should feel comfortable in teaching such a new subject when there is a lack of proper training for the teachers. Another conclusion is that the biggest reason for the introduction of programming in schools is to strengthen students' digital skills as society becomes increasingly digital.

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Political Science, August, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

University of Macau / Faculty of Education