As human beings our identities are formed from birth as we draw on our connections to people, places and the experiences we encounter in life. For young children, adults are crucial in directing these experiences, whether this is at home, school or further afield and therefore they play a key role in identity formation. In the world of education this means that decisions are made by adults based on what is considered best for young children in order to succeed in the future. This has the potential however to have both an enabling and a limiting effect on children's lives. In a climate where arts education funding is being cut and awareness of children's voice and rights is growing in strength, this PhD seeks to explore experiences of visual arts and perceptions of self-identity from a child's perspective with the aim of informing adult perspectives of arts education policy and practice in primary schools. The main argument focuses on children as autonomous identity curators continuously drawing on their curiosity of the world. By engaging them in dialogue about their experiences and lives, adults will be presented with an alternative perspective of the world that can be used to genuinely meet individual needs in young children. The research question 'How do visual art experiences interact with children's self-identity?' is addressed drawing on the principles of bricolage to discuss and analyse the issues through multiple lenses, including the work of Dewey, Bourdieu, and Giddens. A small-scale, multiple case-study, interpretivist approach has therefore been adopted focused on nine participants drawn from four classes from two schools in a Scottish city. Data were gathered during the academic session of 2016-2017 employing narrative inquiry and arts-informed, participatory methods and analysis. Each participant presented a uniquely different relationship with visual art, with some indicating that it was an integral part of their identity and others not so much. Adults, both at school and home, were key in informing this and in one sense the children lacked autonomy and agency in their visual art experiences. However they were autonomous when it came to determining the value of these experiences in their lives and in their identity, with each drawing on their curiosity of the world in different ways to determine this. Rather than create identity, they curated it. They presented a reasoned perspective of their experiences, and highlighted an awareness of aspects of visual art that in some cases came more from their experiences outside of school than from within. Thus at times the perspective was at odds with the intentions of the adult world, particularly from education and creative industries viewpoints; the children created their own meaning and learning from their experiences which were in contrast to the intended learning of the adult world. They also demonstrated a curiosity and open-mindedness in relation to visual art which was not necessarily developed fully by the adults in their lives. This PhD is therefore important because it demonstrates that children do have a degree of agency and autonomy in the formation of their identity and that they develop interests and knowledge that is independent of adult intentions regarding teaching and learning. It is a key piece of research which also presents the voices of children who are not currently represented in academic research in this depth. Finally it raises questions regarding the effectiveness and relevance of current art education practice in education and cultural institutions for children in the contemporary world.

In most New Zealand schools, transition to school programmes are introduced based on adult perceptions aimed at avoiding negative experiences and assisting children in a successful transition to school, yet they run the risk of ‘over managing’ a child’s experience. This research considers how young children perceive the up and coming ‘rite of passage’ of ‘starting school’. Through placing an emphasis on ‘children’s voice’, it explores their expectations, feelings and understandings of school before and after starting. The study follows six children (two boys and four girls, aged from 4 years eight months to 4 years ten months at the start of the study) for approximately two school terms on their journey from an Early Childhood Centre to a primary school. A range of ‘child friendly’ methods were used to gather their understandings. Children’s ‘school comments’ were recorded by their mothers during their transition. Interviews were conducted with three teachers regarding their philosophies and practices of starting school. The findings identified three main themes in children’s initial knowledge about school. The children sourced further knowledge by asking their parents about any concerns or queries as they arose. They also expressed a need to prepare themselves for school. The children gained further understanding of school throughout their transition but did not truly grasp the concept of what school was about until they became ‘school kids’ themselves. The implications of these findings are discussed for transition to school practices.

Este trabalho está estruturado a partir de três diferentes e concomitantes frentes de pesquisa (cujos suportes metodológicos são discutidos na Introdução) e traz uma abordagem diversificada acerca da Regência coral infantojuvenil. Parte-se de uma pesquisa social com 52 regentes que, em suas respostas ao questionário apresentado, identificam características, desafios e dificuldades de ordem social e técnica no desenvolvimento de seus grupos e nos oferecem dados sobre o atual contexto em que a atividade coral é realizada. Com a análise desses dados, foram eleitos três focos de pesquisa bibliográfica, referentes às principais questões colocadas pelos regentes: a própria Regência, a Técnica Vocal e a Educação Musical. Assim, foram levantados pontos de vista de variados autores referentes a esses itens,que tradicionalmente fazem parte da formação do regente e compõem o conjunto de saberes, competências e habilidades desse profissional. Segue-se uma discussão sobre elementos estruturais dos coros e sobre os aspectos de um planejamento em canto coral, visando facilitar e organizar as tarefas do regente, especialmente no que concerne aos procedimentos de ensaio e aos processos de criação e recriação na música coral. A pesquisa-ação foi realizada a partir doPCIU! (Projeto Coral Infantojuvenil da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul), um grupo coral infantojuvenil criado especificamente para os fins desta pesquisa, que perpassa toda a discussão e sintetiza o todo, na medida em que se observa o desenvolvimento do coro e se analisam as atividades e escolhas técnicaspresentes nos ensaios. As dificuldades relatadas pelos colegas regentes corais participantes da pesquisa servem de pano de fundo permanente ao processo reflexivo e interagem com as práticas do PCIU!, em uma pesquisa coesa que une teoria e prática e se consolida em um trabalho artístico de performance musical. / This work is structured from three different and concomitant research fronts (whose methodological supports are discussed in the Introduction) and brings a diverse approach to the Children\'s and youth\'s choir conducting. It begins from a social survey with 52 conductors; in their responses to the questionnaire presented, they identify features, challenges and difficulties of social and technical order in the development of their groups and provide us data about the current context in which the choral activity is fulfilled. By analyzing these data, we elected three focuses of literature research, about the main issues raised by conductors: the Conducting itself, Vocal Technique and Music Education. Thus there were raised points of view of various authors regarding these items, which traditionally are part of the conductor\'s formation and consist the set of knowledge, skills and abilities of this professional. Then follows a discussion about structural elements and planning in choral singing, aiming to facilitate and organize the conductor\'s tasks, especially what regards to the processes of choral rehearsal and the processes of creation and recreation in choral music. The action research was accomplished from the PCIU! (Children and Youth Choir Project of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul), a children\'s and youth group created specifically for the purposes of this research, which permeates the whole discussion and summarizes the whole, accordingly it observes the development of the choir, and it analyzes the activities and technical choices present in rehearsals. The difficulties reported by fellow conductors participants of the research serve as a permanent backdrop to the reflective process and interact with the PCIU! practices, into a cohesive research that combines theory and practice and is consolidated into an artistic work of musical performance.

Este trabalho está estruturado a partir de três diferentes e concomitantes frentes de pesquisa (cujos suportes metodológicos são discutidos na Introdução) e traz uma abordagem diversificada acerca da Regência coral infantojuvenil. Parte-se de uma pesquisa social com 52 regentes que, em suas respostas ao questionário apresentado, identificam características, desafios e dificuldades de ordem social e técnica no desenvolvimento de seus grupos e nos oferecem dados sobre o atual contexto em que a atividade coral é realizada. Com a análise desses dados, foram eleitos três focos de pesquisa bibliográfica, referentes às principais questões colocadas pelos regentes: a própria Regência, a Técnica Vocal e a Educação Musical. Assim, foram levantados pontos de vista de variados autores referentes a esses itens,que tradicionalmente fazem parte da formação do regente e compõem o conjunto de saberes, competências e habilidades desse profissional. Segue-se uma discussão sobre elementos estruturais dos coros e sobre os aspectos de um planejamento em canto coral, visando facilitar e organizar as tarefas do regente, especialmente no que concerne aos procedimentos de ensaio e aos processos de criação e recriação na música coral. A pesquisa-ação foi realizada a partir doPCIU! (Projeto Coral Infantojuvenil da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul), um grupo coral infantojuvenil criado especificamente para os fins desta pesquisa, que perpassa toda a discussão e sintetiza o todo, na medida em que se observa o desenvolvimento do coro e se analisam as atividades e escolhas técnicaspresentes nos ensaios. As dificuldades relatadas pelos colegas regentes corais participantes da pesquisa servem de pano de fundo permanente ao processo reflexivo e interagem com as práticas do PCIU!, em uma pesquisa coesa que une teoria e prática e se consolida em um trabalho artístico de performance musical. / This work is structured from three different and concomitant research fronts (whose methodological supports are discussed in the Introduction) and brings a diverse approach to the Children\'s and youth\'s choir conducting. It begins from a social survey with 52 conductors; in their responses to the questionnaire presented, they identify features, challenges and difficulties of social and technical order in the development of their groups and provide us data about the current context in which the choral activity is fulfilled. By analyzing these data, we elected three focuses of literature research, about the main issues raised by conductors: the Conducting itself, Vocal Technique and Music Education. Thus there were raised points of view of various authors regarding these items, which traditionally are part of the conductor\'s formation and consist the set of knowledge, skills and abilities of this professional. Then follows a discussion about structural elements and planning in choral singing, aiming to facilitate and organize the conductor\'s tasks, especially what regards to the processes of choral rehearsal and the processes of creation and recreation in choral music. The action research was accomplished from the PCIU! (Children and Youth Choir Project of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul), a children\'s and youth group created specifically for the purposes of this research, which permeates the whole discussion and summarizes the whole, accordingly it observes the development of the choir, and it analyzes the activities and technical choices present in rehearsals. The difficulties reported by fellow conductors participants of the research serve as a permanent backdrop to the reflective process and interact with the PCIU! practices, into a cohesive research that combines theory and practice and is consolidated into an artistic work of musical performance.

abstract: Much research has been conducted regarding the current state of public education within the United States. Very little of that research bodes well for the system’s current circumstances or for the direction our system is headed. The debate stems around two opposing ideologies. One believes that there needs to be more accountability via high-stakes testing and the continuum of the status quo that the country has maintained for centuries, regardless of the effect it may be having on the students’ well-being. While the opposing view sees high-stakes testing as a contributing factor to the seemingly unproductive, chaotic, and even harmful conundrum of bias and hegemony that shows a positive correlation of deleterious effects to student well-being. Although this paper references the research of highly esteemed scholars, it asserts that the voices of those that are most relegated to that of undervalued and ignored are precisely the voices that need to be gleaned most relevant. This paper’s purpose is to hear what the ‘experts’ in the field of education, the students themselves, have to say. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Social and Cultural Pedagogy 2018

This thesis deals with the possibilities of working with the selected writing repertoire in the 3rd-5th year of primary school. The aim is to present a wider range of musical activities with a focus on vocal activities for the five selected songs. The first part of the thesis consists of a theoretical part, in which we characterize the physical, psychological, musical and vocal development of pupils of younger school age. In the following chapters, we set out the criteria for selecting a singing repertoire and analyze selected publications in which we can be inspired in its selection. Based on the selected criteria, we present a sand repertoire compiled according to the course of the school year. For each selected song we present the introductory motivation, suggestions for talking about the song, training vocal exercises, recommended method of its rehearsal, dance rendition and instrumental accompaniment. For these songs, the reader will also find possibilities of inter-subject connection, for example with art education, drama education of homeland science or natural science. Some of the submitted initiatives partly meet cross-cutting topics, namely multicultural and environmental education. From the proposed activities we compiled models of teaching hours with a focus on song rehearsal, through...

Most black rural schools in South Africa are beset with discipline and relationship problems attributed to the way children interpret and exercise their rights. Children's misconceptions of rights impede the operation of educational institutions. A literature study investigated the implications of children's rights on their relationships and behaviour. A qualitative investigation of the socio-educative implications of children's rights was conducted in two rural secondary schools in Mpumalanga. Data gathering was done through participant observation, in-depth interviews with two principals and a tribal chief, and focus group interviews with two groups of teachers, parents and learners. Data were analysed, discussed and synthesised. The major findings emerged: limited understanding of rights and concomitant responsibilities and misconceptions of rights leading to the subversion of authority and morality. Recommendations include that rights-education be introduced in schools to improve children's understanding ofrights and to address negative social behaviour. Educators need to be empowered to handle human rights issues within socio-educational institutions. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Socio-Education)