This study explored the school climate of adult basic education centres by investigating the extent to which these education centres showed evidence of control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, and safe and orderly environment. The study was inspired by a lack of school climate studies that focused on adult basic education centres as many school climate studies had concentrated on investigating the school climate of primary and secondary schools. The broad research question which was addressed in the research study was: ‘What is the nature of the school climate of adult basic education centres as perceived by educators?’ The participating educators were randomly selected and a survey – in the form of a questionnaire – was administered. The questionnaire comprised the four scales mentioned above. The items from the four scales were validated through the use of both face and content-related validity procedures. Face validity was ensured through pre-testing. Content validity was achieved through expert review of the items used. The extent to which these items could be included as part of a scale was further explored by means of reliability analysis whose acceptable coefficient alpha was benchmarked at 0.65 and above. Reliability was used to explore the reliability of the questionnaire. The aspect of reliability used for this purpose was analysis of internal consistency. The main purpose was to ascertain whether all the items used in the four scales collectively measured the construct school climate. For example, the reliability analysis for the variable control had 0.79 as its coefficient alpha whilst the reliability analysis for the variable staff cohesiveness, physical resources and safe and orderly environment had 0.76, 0.89, 0.84 as corresponding coefficient alpha respectively. This implied that most items within the four scales measured the construct control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, safe and orderly environment as part of the construct school climate. Furthermore, the coefficient alphas of these four scales compared well with the overall coefficient alpha of 0.84 for this study, which further implied that each of the scales had an immense contribution in the measurement of the construct school climate. Based on the scale rubric designed for the variable control (high score 28-21: moderate score 20-14; low score 13-0), the results from the analysis indicated that the centres under review had a fair level of control mechanisms in place as in all these centres the mean score varied between 23 and 25. On the basis of the scale rubric devised for staff cohesiveness (high score 32-24; moderate score 23-16; low score 15-0), it was also revealed that the majority of the centres had evidence of staff cohesiveness, as no low score was recorded for in most cases the mean score revolved between 22 and 25. Although, the results further indicated that there was an average degree of physical resources in most centres, it also became clear that not all centres had the same level of physical resources at their disposal as the majority of the centres had a mean score that fluctuated between 18 and 33. The scale rubric for physical resources was: between 40-30 for high score; between 29-20 for moderate score and between 19-0 for low score. Finally, the mean score for the variable safe and orderly environment alternated between the minimum mean score of 17 and the maximum mean score of 21. Based on the latter mean scores, it became clear that the majority of the centres had a safe and orderly environment level that fell within the moderate score category (between 20-14) whilst the remaining two centres had a high score category (between 28-21) and no centre had a low score category (between 13-0). / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

The purpose of this purposive qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of school community relationships of preschool parents, preschool teachers, and elementary administrators. In this purposive study, participants were chosen based on predetermined characteristics (Shenton, 2004). Parents from varying levels of academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as their level of parental involvement, were included in this study to eliminate bias. The following themes emerged through coding and transcribing data: the family aspect at school; positive perception of principals; positive perception of teachers; open lines of communication between home and school; opportunities for parent involvement; the expectation of parent involvement; support school community relationships; promote a positive school climate; encourage open lines of communication; and provide activities for parent involvement. This qualitative study also looked at factors that facilitated and inhibited relationships. Factors that emerged in facilitating relationships were good communication, appreciation for involvement opportunities, one-to-one parent teacher meetings, being open to parents, and establishing positive relationships. Factors that may inhibit relationships were socioeconomic barriers and communication and transportation issues.

ANOTATION This work deals with factors which contribute to social inclusion in education. Research is aimed at one of the basic schools, which has been selected according to the previously set criteria. In the theoretical part the most important concepts linked to social education have been discussed with respect to research question. The vital factors I focus on are school culture, which may consists of the right environment, norms and values or forms of communication and cooperation with the partners of the school, who I consider to be mainly the parents. Further on, I focus on the practices which the school sets to establish relations with the NGOs which provide assistance in order to support social inclusion at schools. With respect to the objectives of this thesis qualitative strategy has been selected. The research pattern was formed from three types of actors who have been somehow connected to school. The data collection was carried out via in-depth interviews with the actors chosen based on the snowball method. Each group has been then analysed separately with the aim to create the most important categories. In the final part the most vital discoveries from analysis are compared in order to draw inferences with connection to the research questions. Key words: social inclusion in education,...

Thesis (Ph.D. Education (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The genesis of this study was the lack of comprehensive teacher socialisation programmes for Zimbabwean immigrant teachers in public schools in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. To better understand the theoretical foundations of teacher socialisation as the phenomenon under review, the principles of expanded Activity Theory (AT) (Engeström, 1987) fused with elements of the theory of Symbolic Interactionism (SI) were used as a conceptual framework to ground and structure the study. The study sought to answer the following main research question: How are Zimbabwean immigrant teachers socialised in their host schools amid the inadequacy of existing teacher socialisation programmes for new teachers in public schools? The study followed the qualitative approach to research, based on the interpretive paradigm executed through a multiple instrumental case study design in two public secondary schools in the Sekhukhune South District of the Limpopo Province. The researcher used purposeful sampling so select five participants and two schools, which provided answers to the research questions posed. The study reveals that the teacher socialisation programmes offered in public schools are inadequate and not tailored according to the real needs of Zimbabwean immigrant teachers. The situation is entrenched by the lack of shared understanding amongst principals about the structure and implementation of an effective teacher socialisation programme, especially for immigrants. The study further revealed that Zimbabwean immigrant teachers, owing to their temporary job status, feel only partly valued and appreciated in the South African schooling system. This was evident in their perception that the employment policies for immigrants had been tightened to ensure that they do not attain any permanent employment. In addition, the study revealed that owing to the uncertainty of their job status in schools, Zimbabwean immigrant teachers prefer private schools as their employment of choice rather than public schools. Lastly, the study generally reveals that the challenges Zimbabwean immigrant teachers experience with their socialisation are more systemic than in their host schools.

This study has an action research approach and is conducted as a part of an improvement process at the local school unit. The focus of the study is how the principal and the teachers at a public elementary school take an interest in the school culture and investigate how they can improve the practice while learn-ing from the process. The aim of the study is to create an understanding of the teachers’ experience of the school’s culture, and by using that as a basis, plan and conduct improvement schemes in the operations of the school. The results indicate that the theory of practice architectures enables the re-searcher to identify the sayings, doings and relating of the teachers. Moreover, the study has contributed to an understanding of what is enabled or prevented by internal and external conditions in the current process of action research and school development. The study shows that time and a common interest are central for uniting the college, which in turn is key if school development should lead to long-lasting improvement.

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A qualitative investigation was conducted to explore the phenomenon of teacher perception of change in school culture as a result of the implementation of mindfulness. This study used a phenomenological methodology, enabling the researcher to gather information by focusing on and describing the impact of mindfulness on school culture in a deep comprehensive manner. The investigator was able to extract meaning and code data, leading to the emergence of themes that supported and aligned with the study’s research questions and thus led into a holistic understanding of the phenomenon. This was accomplished through data analysis of rich, in-depth interviews, onsite visits, and document analysis, which consisted of aggregate student disciplinary information, aggregate achievement results, the state report card, attendance records, teacher retention records, and faculty survey results. The quality of data sources led to saturation, and variety of sources allowed for triangulation of the results. The principal researcher in this study found that mindfulness results in a large, positive impact on school culture, including improved relationships among stakeholders, improved academic performance, and a decrease in disciplinary incidents. This was evidenced and supported by a thorough literature review, the results of participant interviews, and document analysis. The researcher also specified factors teachers perceived as essential to the implementation of mindfulness in schools and provided practical suggestions for putting mindfulness in place as well as suggestions for future research. The results from this study provide a framework for understanding and exploring the phenomenon.

Abstract Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed Schools: Restorative Practices for Social and Emotional Behavior Issues in Education by Heather Easterling The purpose of this study was to determine whether factors in school climate and culture and the educator's role in evaluating adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed situations, and disruptive classroom behaviors, enable a school to generate interventions needed to help students succeed. This qualitative study evaluated the ACEs and the relationships traumatic incidents had on disruptive classroom behaviors that teachers experienced with students. Although there is emerging research regarding ACEs and trauma-informed schools, there are multiple factors that facilitate the relationship between ACEs and disruptive classroom experiences. Data collection strategies included the use of interview procedures and document review. This evidence was gathered from teachers who provided their experiences with disruptive classroom behaviors and their experiences with behavior intervention programs such as RTI2B (Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior) and trauma-informed practices. Analysis of data occurred in three phases: (a) categorization based on emergent themes from the interviews, (b) constructing the explanation in narrative form, and (c) re-examination of the collected data concerning discipline referrals, school climate surveys, and attendance surveys. This research study provided insight into experiences teachers had with disruptive classroom behaviors. The experiences showed implementation of trauma-informed practices, a positive behavior program, and the need for a support system for teachers to be able to better reach students who have experienced ACEs that are related to disruptive classroom behaviors. The results revealed that there were direct factors that determined that the relationship between ACEs and trauma were consistent with disruptive classroom behaviors.

[pt] O Pantanal sul-mato-grossense, no município de Corumbá, possui as denominadas Escola das Águas, assim chamadas por estarem situadas em regiões de difícil acesso e sofrerem a influência do ciclo das águas do pantanal, período marcado pela cheia dos rios, de dezembro a junho e a vazante dos mesmos, nos meses restantes. A tese tem o propósito de analisar a cultura lúdica das crianças de uma Escola das Águas, e sua relação com a experiência escolar tendo como questões norteadoras como é constituída a cultura lúdica de crianças das águas? Do que brincam e como brincam crianças pantaneiras, isoladas, temporariamente do meio urbano? Como aprendem os jogos e brincadeiras que realizam? Têm acesso a mídias? Como expressam sua cultura lúdica e sua aprendizagem do brincar no ambiente escolar? Como relacionam cultura lúdica e cultura escolar no período em que residem na escola? Foram realizadas observações, entrevistas, desenhos produzidos pelas crianças sobre jogos e brincadeiras e fotografias de jogos e brincadeiras realizados pelas crianças na escola na Escola Fazenda Santa Mônica. O levantamento dos dados teve a duração de 15 dias em agosto de 2016. Participaram do estudo 31 alunos, 04 professores e 02 monitores. Os dados foram analisados e categorizados em cinco eixos temáticos: 1. Tipologia do jogo/brincadeira empregado; 2. Preferência lúdica das crianças 3. Meios de transmissão da cultura lúdica; 4. Presença de mídias na cultura lúdica; e 5. Cultura lúdica e cultura escolar. A pesquisa apontou que a cultura escolar é um elemento limitador da cultura lúdica das crianças, principalmente no que diz respeito a brincadeiras feitas na natureza. A cultura pantaneira é quase inexistente nas atividades lúdicas desenvolvidas pelas crianças. / [en] The Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul, in Corumbá city, possesses the Escola das Águas (School of Waters), so called since they are located in an area that is difficult access because of the influence of the Pantanal water cycle. A period noted by rivers flooding from December to June and the low waters in the remaining months. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the children s ludic culture in a Escola das Águas and its relationship with the school experience, with the primary question of how the children s ludic culture is comprised. What do Pantanal children do for play and how do they play being isolated during temporary occasions from the urban environment. How do they learn, and which games they play? Do they have access to media? How do they express their play culture and learning of play in the school environment? How do they relate ludic culture and school culture in the period in which they are in school? This thesis will include observations, interviews, drawings produced by the children about games and photographs of games made by the children in Escola Fazenda Santa Mônica. Data survey lasted 15 days in August 2016.Thirty-one students, four teachers and two monitors have participated in the study. The data was analyzed and categorized into five thematic axes: 1. Type of game / game used; 2. Children s playful preferences 3. Ludic cultures means of transmission; 4. Presence of media in the ludic culture; And 5. Ludic culture and school culture. The research pointed out that the school culture is a limiting element of the children s ludic culture, especially when it comes to games taking place in nature. Pantaneira s culture is almost non-existent in the game activities developed by children.

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