The purpose of this study was to make a comparison of the mental, the physical, and the social attainments of forty-two athletes and forty-two non-athletes during a nine-months period in the Senior High School in Bonham, Texas.

There is a scarcity of research exploring the field of Speech and Language Disorders (SLD) in the Greek mainstream primary education context. Accordingly, the aim of this study was twofold: (i) to identify the nature and extent of speech, language and communication skills of Greek pupils with noticeably slow progress, and (ii) to examine the provision made for these pupils in Greek mainstream and inclusion classes. The study was in two phases. For the first phase, pupils whose speech and language development was below expectations were assessed using a battery of tests. Data analysis indicated no significant differences in the language profile and non-verbal reasoning ability of the pupils with SLD, General Learning Difficulties (GLD) and other Special Educational Needs (SEN). The data also gave an indication of SLD incidence in Greek mainstream primary classrooms. Phase two involved seven case studies. Together, these provided a rich profile of the speech/language and literacy functioning of the pupils identified with SLD, GLD and Specific Writing difficulties (SpWd) and the provision offered to them in Greek primary mainstream settings. The findings revealed that these pupils shared difficulties in the domains of speech/language and literacy, which impacted on their access to the curriculum and academic attainments. However, teaching practices were not differentiated according to the pupils’ specific needs or year group. Additionally, pupils’ difficulties in the above areas had a negative impact on their social participation and acceptance by peers. Overall, the study highlights the complex nature of SLD, and the similarities in the language profile and the non-verbal reasoning skills of the SLD and other SEN subgroups. This raised questions about whether SLD, as used in these schools, is a distinct area of difficulty or on a continuum with other areas of difficulties. In addition, the study raised questions regarding the assessment and identification of SLD in the Greek context, as well as the practical teaching of pupils who experience such difficulties.

Australia is home for immigrants from more than a hundred countries and in total almost a quarter of all Australians are overseas-born. A high proportion of immigrants in a society raises question about socioeconomic equality. The purpose of the thesis is to study the differences in socioeconomic attainments between immigrants and native-born workers. Using data collected from the Issues in Multicultural Australia Survey, conducted in 1988, and the ABS Census of Population and Housing, 1986 and 1991, the study finds that human capital variables such as education, language proficiency and experience largely explain the socioeconomic attainments of Australian-born workers. Among immigrant workers, however, these human capital variables have little or no effect on status attainments. The data also show that the lower socioeconomic status of immigrants may not be due only to the lower investment in human capital. Even second generation NESB immigrants are unable to obtain comparable rewards compared to longer established Australians with similar education and skills. The study indicates that there may be barriers in the Australian labour market operating against NESB immigrants. The study concludes that there are birthplace variations in workers??? socioeconomic attainments. When employers can hire Australian-born workers from a large pool of unemployed workers, immigrant workers will be excluded from employment. Immigrant workers will only be hired if the rewards for these workers are lower compared to Australian-born workers. In situations of high unemployment, especially, immigrant workers will find it difficult to be treated equally in the labour market.

Australia is home for immigrants from more than a hundred countries and in total almost a quarter of all Australians are overseas-born. A high proportion of immigrants in a society raises question about socioeconomic equality. The purpose of the thesis is to study the differences in socioeconomic attainments between immigrants and native-born workers. Using data collected from the Issues in Multicultural Australia Survey, conducted in 1988, and the ABS Census of Population and Housing, 1986 and 1991, the study finds that human capital variables such as education, language proficiency and experience largely explain the socioeconomic attainments of Australian-born workers. Among immigrant workers, however, these human capital variables have little or no effect on status attainments. The data also show that the lower socioeconomic status of immigrants may not be due only to the lower investment in human capital. Even second generation NESB immigrants are unable to obtain comparable rewards compared to longer established Australians with similar education and skills. The study indicates that there may be barriers in the Australian labour market operating against NESB immigrants. The study concludes that there are birthplace variations in workers??? socioeconomic attainments. When employers can hire Australian-born workers from a large pool of unemployed workers, immigrant workers will be excluded from employment. Immigrant workers will only be hired if the rewards for these workers are lower compared to Australian-born workers. In situations of high unemployment, especially, immigrant workers will find it difficult to be treated equally in the labour market.