The purpose of this study was to explore the role a school council played in encouraging community involvement in a K to 12 school located within a bedroom community. This qualitative case study included data collected from 35 semi-structured individual interviews conducted with Sunshines School Community Council (SCC) members, teachers, and community members. Augmented data collection incorporated my attendance at three SCC meetings, 11 community and school visits, and the maintenance of a personal journal during the interview process. Data results were analyzed through Putnams concept of social capital theory.<p> During the time of this study, the impact that Sunshines SCC had on community involvement in school was evolving. The SCC was new to the school community; Sunshines SCC members displayed nascent levels of trust between themselves and with community members. The SCC predominantly focused its attention on fulfilling the provincially-mandated requirement of contributing to the schools Learning Improvement Plan. Since supporting the schools centralized goals consumed much of the SCCs time and attention, the association was less able to promote traditional forms of community involvement in school.<p> Most participants perceived traditional forms of community involvement in school to positively impact the social cohesion of the school community. Parents believed there were multiple benefits associated with traditional forms of community involvement in school, including improved parent-to-parent relationships, improved school-home relationships, additional support for school curricula, and improved student performance in school. Based on social capital theory, socialization during community events generates social capital between community members, which encourages further community involvement in school. The forging of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, through a variety of traditional means, was a fundamental component needed to create, complement, and sustain community involvement in the school.<p> The majority of SCC participants perceived that the formal components of SCC policy were misaligned with their desire to promote traditional forms of community involvement. Most participants believed that bureaucratic aspects of the SCC policy (and similar organizations) negatively affect productivity. Social capital theory supported the idea that bureaucracy deters the establishment and utilization of trust and social capital.<p> Sunshine was a bedroom community and the socialization tendencies of the community appeared to negatively influence community involvement. Convenient access to urban amenities, the influx of new community members, and a generational shift of values and lifestyles appeared to deter the creation and utilization of personal and professional stocks of social capital within the community. In contrast, the impact of child-focused events and sporting activities appeared to unite community members and positively influence the creation and utilization of social capital within the community.<p> Implications arising from this study pinpoint the importance of fostering trusting relationships not only between SCCs members but between SCCs and their communities. In order to generate higher levels of trust, and thereby strengthen the potency of social capital, Sunshines SCC members need decentralized authority to self-create local goals. The procedure of annual SCC elections also needs reviewing as an annual influx of new members to the SCC negates the sustainability of high levels of trust. On a practical level, Sunshines SCC, the school administration, and the school division need to promote SCC communication with the school community.

The study examines the evolvemnent of cultural policy in Taiwan through analyzing the budget of the Council of Cultural Affairs (CCA)--Taiwan¡¦s first and only cabinet-level government cultural agency, since its inauguration in 1982 to present. The study reviews the structure, variation and trend of CCA¡¦s general budget, and examines the budget data with policy White Papers. During President Chiag Ching-guo and Chen Shui-bian¡¦s administration, budget item variations were limited and the growth and distribution of budget have been relatively stable. During President Lee Teng-hui¡¦s administration, there were significant changes in budget items and distribution, as well as rapid growth in budget amounts. In each President¡¦s administration, the Ministers of CCA who had longer tenure tend to have more stable policy goals. The cultural policy largely influenced by changes of Ministers as well as socio-political situation. In the budget of CCA, only six items (Cultural heritage, cultural communication, international exchange, visual arts and performing arts) had been listed in the budget of CCA since its founding. The only new item had been keeping to present is Community Revitalization. Comparing with the cultural development of Taiwan, long term and continual support are critical to the achievement of cultural policy projects.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (M.A.)--Queen's University at Kingston, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes special report study entitled: Exhibit technique, display planning & systems. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Oklahoma, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 241-249).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-139). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

ABSTRACT: Music is a part of life and worship in many religions, especially Christianity, and the Roman Catholic Church has been involved throughout her history in the development of music in the Western world. The Second Vatican Council had a major impact on the Roman Catholic Church in many respects, including on her music. Interviews were conducted with members of St. John Brebeuf Church in order to assess both this impact and their perception of music generally. The author encountered different opinions: most were favorable to the “folk” style of music now prevalent, and many had useful insights for ongoing unity, purpose and perspective in the church’s use of music to enhance the worship of the faithful.

Traditional understanding of the Canadian federation includes a belief that leadership from the federal government is necessary for effective intergovernmental relations and collective policy. The ability of the federal government to set a national vision has waned in the years since the constitutional negotiations. In its place has been a rise in interprovincial collaboration and leadership. A 30 year review of policy regarding the economic union and internal trade reveals that provincial asymmetry and incremental bilateral or regional action has shown an ability to contribute to a renewed pan-Canadian consensus. From this we can see how the system of interprovincial relations that has developed can serve to advance innovative policy and critical intergovernmental collaboration needed in the Canadian federation. / Graduate

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.