The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between second-order change leadership behaviors and the grade assigned to schools in large urban districts by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). A total of 101 Title I elementary school principals from large urban school districts with 60+% students on Free and Reduced School Lunch participated in the study. Specifically, this study analyzed 7 of the 21 second-order change factor responsibilities. They include (a) knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment, (b) optimizer, (c) intellectual stimulation, (d) change agent, (e) monitoring/evaluating, (f) flexibility, and (g) ideals/beliefs. The findings of this study were delineated through an examination of the data as it was related to the following questions: (a) What are the differences, if any, in the Principal Actions Survey scores of Title I elementary principals based on the 2008 school grade, according to the FLDOE? (b) What relationship, if any, exists among professional demographics of the principals (years at the school, years as an educator, years as an administrator prior to becoming a principal, years as a principal, highest degree earned, age, gender) and the second-order change leadership behaviors? (c) What are the differences, if any, in the second-order change leadership behavior subgroup scores based on the 2008 school grade according to the FLDOE? Although Research Question 1 had no statistical significance, principals who had a higher mean on the Principal Actions Survey led A and B-rated schools. Statistical significance was found in Research Question 2 for the second-order change leadership behavior of Change Agent and Ideals/Beliefs. Though statistical significance was not found in Research Question 3, each mean score for each sub-group in each grade group indicated consistent answers between Strongly Agree and Agree, which demonstrated a large degree of agreement. Additionally, comments from telephone interviews with selected principals determined that these leadership behaviors could positively impact elementary schools and the field of education. Recommendations of the study were to: (a) Conduct a follow-up study to gather the perceptions of teachers from the same Title I schools regarding their principals' second-order change leadership behaviors, (b) conduct a similar study with principals in Title I middle and high school settings, (c) conduct a qualitative study on second-order change leadership behaviors of non-Title I elementary, middle, and high school principals, (d) engage in further research to investigate professional development activities that may assist principals in enhancing second-order change leadership behaviors and improve instruction, (e) investigate the relationship between principals' second-order change leadership behaviors and achievement of Adequate Yearly Progress (f) replicate the study in states other than Florida (g) explore the relationship between second-order change leadership behaviors of district administrators and their district's academic success.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Environmental Health)) -- Central University of technology, Free State, 2013 / Malnutrition and concomitant infections are major contributing factors to child morbidity and mortality in developing countries such as South Africa. Globally, children benefiting from school feeding programmes are generally from communities with low socio-economic statuses. The meals provided through feeding schemes, such as the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in South Africa, are aimed at significantly supplementing the beneficiaries’ daily energy and nutrient requirements. The possible nutrient deficiency of meals provided through such programmes compromises the nutritional well-being of children, promotes malnutrition and renders children more susceptible to infectious diseases. Furthermore, illness, particularly caused by diarrhoeal and infectious diseases, is a major factor contributing to child malnutrition as the human body is unable to efficiently digest foods and absorb nutrients during illness. Therefore, the microbiological safety of the foods served to children via feeding schemes is essential. In an effort to contribute towards the safety and wholesomeness of foodstuffs served through the NSNP, the present study was conducted with a view to assess the nutritional quality and safety of the foodstuffs. The knowledge, attitudes and practises (KAP) of food handlers and NSNP representatives/committee members at the schools were also investigated in order to assess origins of potential food contamination. Data collected via nutritional analyses of meals served to school children were compared to the nutrient-based standards set by the United Kingdom as guidelines for an average school lunch. The carbohydrate, energy, calcium and zinc contents of the school meals were below the standards, the majority of the meals met the protein and iron standards and all meals complied with the standards for lipid and vitamin C contents. During the microbiological analysis study, preparation surfaces yielded higher counts of all detected organisms (total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and yeasts and moulds) compared to the hands of food handlers. Therefore possible sources of contamination may be foodstuffs, animal pests and environmental elements such as dust. However, significant differences of surface microbial counts could not be established (P > 0.05) and thus cross-contamination may have resulted among surfaces, possibly augmented by shortfalls in cleaning regimes. The majority of the participants of the questionnaire survey reportedly washed their hands and cleaned all surfaces several times during the day with water and detergent. In addition, a disinfectant was used by some of the food preparers during cleaning. Furthermore, participants stated that their aprons were washed daily. These claims were in agreement with the findings of the surface microbial study with regards to the hands, however, they did not match the findings of the preparation surfaces which contained the highest counts of total coliforms, E. coli and S. aureus of the three surfaces analysed, and aprons responsible for the highest yeast and mould counts. Improper storage and food preparation methods, such as the application of high temperatures, excessive exposure to UV light and oxygen, and high moisture conditions, may result in the deterioration of nutrients. Storage conditions which may permit pest infestation may also increase the risk of food-related illnesses and risk could be further elevated by application of improper cleaning and sanitation practices. In order for the NSNP to operate effectively, it is essential that the national and provincial Departments of Basic Education, which are responsible for the overall administration of the NSNP, and schools’ personnel function in an integrated manner through support structures and effective communication. Infrastructural limitations (lack of proper kitchen facilities and ventilation) and shortage of resources while administering the NSNP were the main challenges observed during the present study. Due to these hurdles, adhering to food safety practices and maintaining nutritional quality of foods may be a challenge. Continuous training in personal and general hygiene is also a necessity in preserving food safety. Furthermore, nutritional quality of foodstuffs may be preserved through proper storage practices and application of preparation methods which minimize loss of nutrients.

Objectif. Étudier les comportements alimentaires des enfants utilisateurs de boîte à lunch tels que décrits par les mères, en s’inspirant des descripteurs de comportements alimentaires de Jean-Pierre Poulain. Méthodes. Des entrevues individuelles et de groupes eurent lieu avec 18 mères. Une analyse de données qualitatives a été réalisée en utilisant les dimensions de Poulain comme cadre de référence. Une considération additionnelle fut intégrée dans l’analyse, celle de la dimension matérielle de la boîte à lunch. Résultats. Dimension spatiale : Les repas ont lieu dans des classes ou dans de grandes salles communes. Dimension temporelle : Le moment et la durée de la consommation du repas varient selon différents facteurs. Le moment de préparation de la boîte est aussi d’intérêt. Environnement social : Les pairs et les médias ont une grande influence dans les comportements liés à la boîte à lunch. Logique de choix : La mère est le principal décideur et acteur à l’égard du contenu. Structure de la prise : Les mères précisent des contenus associés aux repas de la veille ou des mets froids. Des desserts et des à-côtés accompagnent le repas principal. L’étude de la dimension matérielle de la boîte révèle que la facilité d’entretien est le principal critère de choix des boîtes alors que l’apparence visuelle est celui de l’enfant. L’écologie devient de plus en plus une priorité. Conclusion. Cette nouvelle approche pour l’étude des comportements alimentaires du jeune utilisateur de boîte à lunch fournit aux intervenants une autre perspective selon laquelle étudier cette activité quotidienne et/ou élaborer des projets promotionnels en santé publique. / Objective. To improve the understanding of the eating behaviour of children, relative to lunch boxes, as described by their mothers and taking into consideration the contribution of Jean-Pierre Poulain’s six descriptors of human food behaviour. Methods. Individual and group interviews were conducted with 5 dietitians and 13 mothers. Qualitative analysis has been done using Poulain’s descriptors, on the eating behaviour of children and their lunch boxes. The material dimension of the lunch box was also considered. Results. Space dimension : Meals are eaten into classrooms or in large areas designed for that matter. Temporal dimension : The time and the duration of the activity varies, depending on different factors. Moment and time involve preparing the lunch box is also of interest. Social environment : Peers and media in general have an important influence on the behaviour of lunch baggers. Logic of choice : The mother is the key decision maker and actor with regards to the lunch box content. Content : Lunch can be related to last meals leftovers or home made sandwiches, side dishes and desserts are also of interest. Analysis of comments associated to the lunch box material dimension reveals the importance of ease of cleaning as a key factor for the mothers. Visuals appearance is the most important factor for the kids. Environment becomes a growing concern. Conclusion. This new way of looking at the food behaviour of young lunch box users may help public health educators to inform and assist the actors involve in this daily activity and/or develop public health promotion program.

Abstracts This thesis will address current problems in terms of school feeding in the Czech Republic. Its purpose is to summarize the situation from the point of view of the heads of school cafeterias and to determine the greatest difficulties for further functioning of the system. School feeding system is a part of educational and learning process and its effects relate to proper fulfilling of schools' educational programmes. At the same time, it is an environment for application of informal learning in terms of correct eating habits and social interactions during meals. By participating in the process, the pupils gain socio-psychological competences for entire life. Not only they gain practical knowledge in terms of nutrition, they learn as well how to interact during meals in an unforced way. Using the questionnaire method, some of the problems of school feeding system were identified. Some of the most severe problems might become a risk to this whole unique system. The outcome of the research are findings which point out the problems, such as old age of the personnel in the school feeding system, as well as the absence of new young people, who would continuously take on the experiences and replace the retiring workers. The results of the research revealed that the case of these problems are mainly...

Die erste Arbeit untersucht die Einschulungseffekte des indischen Midday Meal Scheme, das größte Schulessenprogramm der Welt. Um die kausalen Effekte der Strategie zu isolieren, benutzen wir die schrittweise Implementierung des Programms in Indiens Staaten in öffentlichen, aber nicht privaten Schulen. Wir finden einen substanziellen Zuwachs der Einschulung an Grundschulen. Die zweite Arbeit untersucht die Korrelation zwischen unternehmerischem Versuch und Startup und lokaler religiöser Diversität. Wir finden heraus, dass die Orte mit höherer religiöser Diversität mit einer höheren individuellen Wahrscheinlichkeit assoziiert sind, ein neues Unternehmen zu versuchen zu gründen, aber nicht es zum Erfolg zu führen. Die dritte Arbeit modelliert einen Markt in dem Konsumenten gegenüber den Arbeitern Altruismus empfinden und ein wohliges Gefühl davon ableiten, Produkte von Firmen zu kaufen, die zumindest einen Mindestlohn bezahlen. Symmetrische reine Strategie Equilibria werden analyisiert in einem Zufalls-Nutzenmodell mit einem Kontinuum an Konsumenten und n Firmen. / The first paper is a large-scale assessment of the enrollment effects of India''s midday meal scheme, the largest school feeding program in the world. To isolate the causal effect, we make use of staggered implementation across Indian states in public but not private schools. We find a substantial increase in primary school enrollment. The second paper studies the correlation between entrepreneurial trial and startup and local religious diversity. We find that localities with higher religious diversity are associated with a higher individual probability of trying to set up a new venture, but not of setting it up. The third paper models a market where consumers feel altruism towards workers and derive a warm-glow from buying products of firms that pay at least a minimum wage. Symmetric pure-strategy equilibria are analyzed in a random utility model with a continuum of consumers and n firms.

Objectif. Étudier les comportements alimentaires des enfants utilisateurs de boîte à lunch tels que décrits par les mères, en s’inspirant des descripteurs de comportements alimentaires de Jean-Pierre Poulain. Méthodes. Des entrevues individuelles et de groupes eurent lieu avec 18 mères. Une analyse de données qualitatives a été réalisée en utilisant les dimensions de Poulain comme cadre de référence. Une considération additionnelle fut intégrée dans l’analyse, celle de la dimension matérielle de la boîte à lunch. Résultats. Dimension spatiale : Les repas ont lieu dans des classes ou dans de grandes salles communes. Dimension temporelle : Le moment et la durée de la consommation du repas varient selon différents facteurs. Le moment de préparation de la boîte est aussi d’intérêt. Environnement social : Les pairs et les médias ont une grande influence dans les comportements liés à la boîte à lunch. Logique de choix : La mère est le principal décideur et acteur à l’égard du contenu. Structure de la prise : Les mères précisent des contenus associés aux repas de la veille ou des mets froids. Des desserts et des à-côtés accompagnent le repas principal. L’étude de la dimension matérielle de la boîte révèle que la facilité d’entretien est le principal critère de choix des boîtes alors que l’apparence visuelle est celui de l’enfant. L’écologie devient de plus en plus une priorité. Conclusion. Cette nouvelle approche pour l’étude des comportements alimentaires du jeune utilisateur de boîte à lunch fournit aux intervenants une autre perspective selon laquelle étudier cette activité quotidienne et/ou élaborer des projets promotionnels en santé publique. / Objective. To improve the understanding of the eating behaviour of children, relative to lunch boxes, as described by their mothers and taking into consideration the contribution of Jean-Pierre Poulain’s six descriptors of human food behaviour. Methods. Individual and group interviews were conducted with 5 dietitians and 13 mothers. Qualitative analysis has been done using Poulain’s descriptors, on the eating behaviour of children and their lunch boxes. The material dimension of the lunch box was also considered. Results. Space dimension : Meals are eaten into classrooms or in large areas designed for that matter. Temporal dimension : The time and the duration of the activity varies, depending on different factors. Moment and time involve preparing the lunch box is also of interest. Social environment : Peers and media in general have an important influence on the behaviour of lunch baggers. Logic of choice : The mother is the key decision maker and actor with regards to the lunch box content. Content : Lunch can be related to last meals leftovers or home made sandwiches, side dishes and desserts are also of interest. Analysis of comments associated to the lunch box material dimension reveals the importance of ease of cleaning as a key factor for the mothers. Visuals appearance is the most important factor for the kids. Environment becomes a growing concern. Conclusion. This new way of looking at the food behaviour of young lunch box users may help public health educators to inform and assist the actors involve in this daily activity and/or develop public health promotion program.

No description available.

DEd (Curriculum Studies) / Department of Curriculum Studies / Although on its introduction the focus of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) was to improve health and nutritional status of South African school children, it was put in place to improve school attendance, curb absenteeism and drop-out by children of school going age as a result of hunger and poverty. It was also meant to improve the learning capacity of children since access to nutritious meals has the potential to improve their concentration levels during instructional discourses, which can enhance the quality of educational outcomes. This study explored the views of education stakeholders on the challenges they encountered in implementing the NSNP in achieving its educational goals at two schools in the Vhembe District in South Africa. Specifically, the study investigated how the NSNP influences school access, attendance and participation at schools that are benefiting from the NSNP in an endeavour to establish strategies for improving the quality of schooling. Abraham Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of needs was applied to explain how children’s basic needs can be a foundation to their educational needs and aspirations. A case study design involving two schools was adopted for the study and the qualitative research approach was employed. Purposive sampling method was employed to select two secondary school principals, ten secondary school class teachers per school, ten learners who were beneficiaries of the NSNP and ten of their counterparts who were not on NSNP per school, and two circuit NSNP officers. Individual and focus group interviews, documentary study and observations were used to collect data, which were analysed thematically. The findings of the study revealed that: the National School Nutrition Programme is a credible strategy for learners from poor backgrounds to access schooling and reduce their school drop-out; there was no clear difference in academic performance between leaners who participated and those who opted out of the Programme; educators felt overwhelmed by administrative work for the feeding programme, which compromised on their co-responsibilities; there were inadequate workshops to equip service providers of the Programme; food was provided under poor hygiene conditions which made some learners to opt out of the Programme; Programme records had inaccurate information. Based on the main study findings, the study recommended that the programme should continue as the majority of learners were benefiting; the Programme should have its own v administrative personnel; there should be regular staff development workshops on the Programme; schools should erect proper infrastructure for food storage and service; a multi- ministerial team of experts from health, education Programme; and all schools that have the Programme should maintain nutrition gardens for provision of fresh food. Finally, for the effective role-taking by duty-bearers for the Programme, the study concluded by recommending a model called the Increasing Achievement Mode for the National School Nutrition Programme.

En tredjedel av all mat som produceras för människor når aldrig en mänsklig mage. Sveriges kommuner beskrivs i regeringens handlingsplan för Agenda 2030 som en mycket viktig del i omställningen för ett hållbart samhälle och den offentliga måltiden benämns vara en angelägen del i det arbetet. Vi genomförde fallstudier på tre svenska skolor och utvärderade hur matsvinn i skolkök påverkas av synen på mat, hur graden av engagemang och kunskap påverkar svinnet samt huruvida städer och kommuner kan stödja skolorna i arbetet mot svinnet. Det gjordes genom att studera tidigare forskning samt utföra intervjuer, observationer och enkäter.Resultatet i vår undersökning visade att skolorna i Göteborg hade betydligt lägre andel matsvinn än skolan i Malmö. De främsta skillnaderna handlade inte om arbetet i matsalen, utan om övergripande attityder till hur arbetet med matsvinn ska bedrivas. Kommuner och städer kan bidra till skolan och skolkökens minskade matsvinn genom att tydligt signalera att frågan ligger högt på agendan. På så vis finns en möjlighet att sprida en kultur och ett engagemang för uppgiften. I Göteborg mäts matsvinnet dagligen och utvärderas och följs upp månadsvis. Det har gjort att kökspersonalen upplever matsvinnsarbetet som en integrerad och självklar del i det dagliga arbetet. I Malmö läggs mer ansvar över på de enskilda medarbetarna i köken.För elever kan mat vara så mycket mer än bara mat. Särskilt för äldre barnen kan maten bli en del av identitetsskapandet. Vi har undersökt hur elever, kökspersonal och pedagoger kan påverka varandras attityder till maten i skolköken. Det som särskilde den av skolorna med allra lägst matsvinn var kökspersonalens kommunikation med eleverna kring maten vid själva serveringen. / One third of all food produced never reaches a human stomach. Sweden's municipalities are described in the Swedish Government's action plan for Agenda 2030 as a very important part of the change for a sustainable society and the public meal is regarded as a key player to achieve this goal. We conducted case studies at three Swedish schools and evaluated how food waste in school kitchens is affected by our view on food, how the degree of commitment and knowledge affects waste and whether, and how, cities and municipalities can support schools in their measures to reduce food waste. We did this by studying previous research and conducting interviews, observations and surveys.The results of our study showed that the schools in Gothenburg had a significantly lower proportion of food waste than the school in Malmö. The main differences were not about the work in the school cafeteria, instead it came down to the overall behaviour about how the work on food waste should be dealt with. Municipalities and cities can contribute to school and school kitchen's reduced food waste by clearly signalling that the issue is high on the agenda. In this way, there is an opportunity to spread a culture and commitment to the task. In Gothenburg, food waste is measured daily and evaluated and followed up on a monthly basis. This has made the kitchen staff experience the food waste work as an integral and natural part in the daily work. In Malmö, more responsibility is placed on the individual employees in the kitchen.To pupils, food can be so much more than just food. In particular for adolescents food can play an important role in building their identity. We have researched how students, kitchen staff and teachers can influence each other's behaviour towards food in school kitchens. What distinguished the school with the lowest food waste from the others was the communication of the kitchen staff with the students about the food at the actual serving.