Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis advisor: Sherry K. Watt. Includes bibliographic references (p. 131-148).

Nationally and internationally grade retention is still used as a remedial strategy even though the majority of research questions its efficacy. In this qualitative study the adolescent is given a voice to inform important role-players about his experience of grade retention. The findings show that the adolescent is very self-conscious about his new status and fears stereotyping. The adolescent's self-esteem is shattered and he loses confidence in his ability to achieve. He is often the victim of teasing and experiences loneliness when he loses his friends in the process. The adolescent is hypersensitive to remarks by teachers and his parents. When he needs support the most, he experiences only conflict. Feelings of despondency and doubt in the existence of God are the result. Given the importance of psychosocial adjustment on subsequent development, recommendations were made to assist important people in the adolescent's life to support him more effectively. / Social Work / (M.A. Diac (Play Therapy))

The research was directed at developing guidelines for counsellors who work with retained middle childhood learners. The supposition of the study was that retained middle childhood learners require support in accepting the retention. For the purpose of this study a qualitative research approach with an exploratory and descriptive nature was used. The intervention research model of Rothman and Thomas (1994) was applied. A combination of Gestalt philosophical principles, existing literature and semi-structured interviews with educators, educational psychologists and middle childhood learners with experience of grade retention were used to develop guidelines. The researcher concluded that retained middle childhood learners require support in the process of accepting the grade retention. Counsellors who work with retained middle childhood learners lack knowledge on how to support the retained child. Guidelines for counsellors who work with retained middle childhood learners were developed to successfully address the lack of knowledge in the field. / Social Work / (M.Diac.(Play Therapy))

The purpose of the study was to explore multiculturalism as a "fourth force" position complementary to the forces of psychodynamic, behavioural, and humanistic explanations of human behaviour. In an effort to develop a multicultural approach that could contribute to school counsellor training, literature on school guidance and counselling and the literature on multicultural guidance and counselling were consulted. The major findings of the literature study: The first part of literature review (Chapter 2) covers a number of aspects that are essential in school guidance and counselling in contemporary society. The second part of literature review (Chapter 3) is devoted to multi-faceted aspects of multicultural education and counselling. Multicultural guidance and counselling forms the basis of this study. The empirical investigation was conducted using The Modified Version of the Multicultural Awareness-Knowledge-Skills Survey. The findings from the survey were that participants of the study perceived themselves as being more aware of cultural/ethnic/racial issues that are prevalent and have a direct impact when people of different cultural /ethnic/racial orientation meet in counselling situations as evidenced by results on the Awareness Subscale. As reflected by results of the Knowledge Subscale, the participants, especially college and university students, showed that they still need training that would promote their knowledge base in the area of multicultural issues and basic concepts that are prevalent in their day to day interactions with people of diverse backgrounds (see subsection 5.5.2.). The most important finding that emerged in this Skills Subscale is the perception that the participants need training that would enhance their skills and competence in handling multicultural issues when they engage in guidance and counselling with students from different cultural/ethnic/racial backgrounds. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This study outlines and evaluates a school-based group intervention programme, offering support and teaching problem-solving skills, for children of divorce. The effect of the programme on children's beliefs about divorce and their self-concept is empirically investigated. A sample of 17 latency age children was divided into an experimental group and a wait-list condition control group. The results indicate that a group intervention programme can contribute towards positive changes in children's beliefs about divorce and improvements in their self-concept. Treatment effects for children of divorce are not only associated with the fonnal group intervention programme. Children in both groups improved on several measures from first to second testing and several explanations are offered for these findings. This study suggests that group interventions can contribute to improved adjustment outcomes for children of divorce, by helping children develop more realistic beliefs about divorce and by improving their self-concept / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science) in Mental Health

The need for personal guidance was identified amongst senior primary school pupils within a specific environment but no applicable programme was found and a programme needed to be designed. A literature study investigated the development of senior primary children, the field of guidance and five need areas to include in a guidance programme. Guidelines for designing a programme were also identified. An empirical study examined guidance needs of the pupils through a questionnaire administered to them, their parents, teachers, and older pupils_. Senior primary pupils were not able to provide clear information as to their needs. Older pupils and parents did identify certain need areas. Based on this, and on the literature, plans . to draw up a guidance programme to include all five need areas could continue. An introductory programme would also be run for parents and senior primary pupils. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Die doel van voorligting is om 'n persoon tot selfaktualisering te lei, of anders gestel, om hom te help om sy volle potensiaal te verwesenlik. Die doel wat ook op 'n leersituasie van toepassing is, word moeilik bereik indien 'n leerling onbewus van of onrealisties oar sy potensiaal is. So 'n leerling sal baat vind by 'n voorligtingsprogram waarin realistiese prestasievlakke bepaal word. 'n Empiriese ondersoek waarby 124 graad 11- leerlinge betrek is, is uitgevoer. Veranderlikes soos intelligensie, aanleg, selfkonsep, motivering, belangstelling (brein voorkeur) en studieorientasie is met betroubare instrumente gemeet en deur middel van regressie-analises gekombineer ten einde variansie in prestasie te verklaar. Regressievergelykings is opgestel waarmee realistiese punte in die vernaamste vakke bepaal kan word. / The aim of guidance is to lead a person to self-actualisation or stated differently, to help him to develop his full potential. This aim, which is also applicable to a learning situation, is difficult to attain if a pupil is unaware of, or unrealistic about his potential. Such a pupil will benefit from a guidance programme in which realistic achievement levels are determined. An empirical investigation which involved 124 grade 11 pupils was carried out. Variables such as intelligence, aptitude, self­ concept, motivation, interest (brain preference) and study orientation were measured with reliable instruments, and by means of regression analyses combinations were found to explain the variance in achievement. Regression equations were formulated with which realistic scores could be determined in the most important subjects. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

A pesquisa tem por objetivo ressignificar o papel do pedagogo na escola atual e caracteriza-se fundamentalmente por uma investigação teórica, complementada com dados empíricos coletados junto a professores do ensino básico na rede pública do Estado de São Paulo. Trata da questão epistemológica da Pedagogia, diferenciando e relacionando-a com as Ciências da Educação, de modo a identificá-la como campo de conhecimento sobre e na educação, esta entendida como fenômeno da prática social. Desenvolve um estudo histórico de como ocorre a universalização do Ensino Fundamental no país, assim como da atuação dos pedagogos nas escolas brasileiras. Analisa os desafios e as demandas da escola pública na atualidade e dos serviços pedagógicos reivindicados pelos professores. Apresenta quatro áreas de atuação do pedagogo escolar articuladas ao projeto político pedagógico das escolas: a coordenação do trabalho pedagógico, a direção escolar, a coordenação dos programas de desenvolvimento profissional dos educadores e a articulação da escola com a comunidade local. O trabalho defende que os profissionais que ocupam os cargos diretivos nas escolas tenham formação específica no campo pedagógico, o que efetivamente os habilitariam como pedagogos escolares. A literatura da área consultada apoiou-se principalmente em Dias de Carvalho, Estrela, Franco, Pimenta, Kuenzer, Libâneo, Paro, Sacristán, Saviani, Schmied- Kowarzik, Silva Jr. e Veiga. / This research aims to re assess the pedagogue\'s role at the contemporary school. Its main characteristic is a theoretical investigation, which was complemented by empirical data gathered through schoolteachers at São Paulo State public schools. It deals with Pedagogy epistemological question and both differentiates and relates it to the education sciences in order to identify pedagogy as the field of knowledge of and about education whose meaning here is a social practice. It develops a historical study to show how first grade school became universally available in this country and how pedagogues have worked at Brazilian schools. It analyses the challenges and needs at the public contemporary school and what kind of services the teachers demand. It presents four working areas for the school pedagogue: to coordinate the pedagogical work, to coordinate the teachers\' training programs, to provide a link with the local community and to manage the school. It argues that those professionals who are in the managing/coordinating jobs at the schools ought to have studied Pedagogy, what would effectively prepare them to be school pedagogues. The study deals primarily with the work developed by Dias de Carvalho, Estrela, Franco, Pimenta, Kuenzer, Libâneo, Paro, Sacristán, Saviani, Schmied- Kowarzik, Silva Jr. and Veiga.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract