This study investigated the psychological approach and the classroom methodology needed by an educator to teach street children effectively in a special school created for them. Street children with their psychological trauma, their independent, self-sufficient outlook and educational deprivation make their adaption to the methods and educational environment of mainstream schooling difficult. To meet the special educational, psychological and emotional needs of street children, Masupatsela School was started. The study was carried out in this school. The qualitative research methodology used an action research design which consisted of a reconnaissance phase and three cycles. Each cycle made use of a planning, implementation and evaluation phase. A general plan was formulated after the reconnaissance phase and revised after each cycle. The teaching was done by the researcher using four grades of street children ranging form grade 7 to grade 10. Because of their specific psychological makeup, street children, who have lacked close, comforting and trusting relationships and role models, require a classroom environment, atmosphere and a relationship with the educator which is supportive, caring, warm and firm. To achieve this a client centred approach was used based predominantly on the therapeutic principles of congruence, empathetic understanding and unconditional positive regard. The interaction with the children was based on openness, tolerance, the affirmation of others and honest firmness. The teaching methodology was an eclectic one which made use primarily of a cognitive teaching style which was introduced incrementally over the three cycles. The main components of this style consisted of cognitive questioning, cooperative learning and strategic reading for information. The results of the study showed that both the psychological and educational approach in the classroom to be very appropriate and successful. However the wider negative contextual influences such as the school organization, staffing and curriculum made the classroom strategies difficult to sustain. It is recommended that a programme using these educational and psychological approaches and incorporating functional literacy and numeracy, vocational skills, recreation and a therapeutic programme be incorporated when designing a programme for street children in a formal setting. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the lifeworld of the high-achieving young adolescent. A literature study was undertaken to determine the developmental level of young adolescents and their corresponding needs. The Bio-ecosystemic theory of Bronfenbrenner was used as theoretical basis to explore the level of influence in the life of the young adolescent. The role parental involvement plays in the life-experience and perceptions of young adolescents was also investigated. The results of the study indicated that the environment or lifeworld of young adolescents plays a big role in all the different aspects of their development. Parents, who are the closest entities in their lifeworld, have the strongest influence. Parental values, beliefs and attitudes are communicated through verbal and non-verbal interactions. Positive and negative conditional regard were found to be motivational tools used by parents to encourage young adolescents to perform according to their expectations. Young adolescents often internalise or introject parental values, beliefs and attitudes as a result of the level of their moral development. Unrealistic or perfectionistic expectations often lead to high levels of anxiety and stress. This could interfere with their normal developmental tasks of which identity formation, the development of self-control and self-regulation appear to be very important aspects. From the findings of the study, guidelines for parents and educators were compiled in support of young adolescents who find themselves in a high-achieving academic environment. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This study investigates variables that influence choice of Physical Science as a secondary school subject. The variables are pupil, home environment, teacher and school environment. A questionnaire was administered to 849 grade 9 pupils. The following findings are recorded: The better pupils achieve in Science the more likely that they will further their studies in Science. If pupils have positive self-concepts, beliefs about, attitudes and interest in Science and enjoyed Science at primary school they are inclined to choose Science as a subject. Pupils who choose Science view it as a valuable subject for daily life, have parents who evaluate Science favourably and come from better socio-economic backgrounds than those who do not choose Science. These pupils also view the attitudes, personalities, competencies and methods of assessment of their Science teachers positively. Finally, they perceive the Science curricula and textbooks as beneficial. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Tbis study has as primary objective the development of an appropriate model to assist ' teachers, in South Africa, to be able to understand and assist learners with behaviour problems. The need for the study has its genesis within the current difficulties teachers experience in dealing with behaviour problems in the classroom and the fact that increasing numbers of children are involved. A key facet of the research is its accent on the unmet emotional needs of learners that function as a behavioural determinant. The study is analytical descriptive in nature and as such is based on two fundamental dimensions:- to acquire a sound theoretical understanding of the concepts, causative 'factors and underlying behaviour problems and the most appropriate means to deal therewith and substantiating the insights acquired by means of interviews with teachers, school principals, and other significant role players. An earnest attempt was made to analyse behaviour problems in terms of the various theoretical frameworks presented within contemporary literature. The ecological systems model was found to be the most appropriate for the development of the . referenced model. This stands in sharp contrast to the traditional medical model which in many instances still forms the basis of current theory and practice. Learners with emotional problems experience behaviour problems which serve as barriers to effective learning. Little attention however, has been attributed to putting appropriate systems in place to assist these learners. A key consideration embodied within the new Education Policy (NCS DOCUMENT 1997:1 0) is the issue of meeting the needs of all learners so that they are able to actualise their potential - this includes their emotional needs. The findings of this study need to be seen within the light of meeting this objective. In order to address the unmet emotional needs of learner, teachers must attend to the cognitive mind maps which embody internalized feelings and cognition. A model for understanding the cognitive maps has been developed as part of this study and serves as introduction to the model developed to assist learners wi~h behaviour problems. The study provides a new perspective directed at understanding instead of managing behaviour problems. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Special Needs Education)

Divorce has become so prevalent in our present day society, that it is regarded as one of the most sressful and complex mental health crises facing children today. As parents are often under tremendous stress during the time of divorce, they may be incapable of provding the support and guidance children need. The purpose of this study is to present a group counselling intervention programme to assist children of divorce and to create a supportive group atmosphere in which children can share divorce-related feelings, clarify common misconceptions and reduce feelings of isolation. Findings of this study indicate that the acquisition of problem-solving communication and anger control skills help to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, improve the self-concept and ultimately promote post-divorce adjustment. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Text in Afrikaans / The importance of the emotional and social development of a human being is highlighted by this research study, while the ability of the human spirit to transcend the human body has inspired the researcher to investigate movement activities as a potential key to the emotional and social development of wheelchair-bound learners. The researcher has chosen participation in wheelchair dancing to determine whether wheelchair-bound learners show development on emotional and social levels by investigating their intra- and interpersonal abilities before and after participating in wheelchair dancing. Intra- and interpersonal abilities are interdependent abilities and are regarded important components of emotional intelligence. In the interest of validity and reliability, the researcher used purposeful sampling in the selection of her participants. The participants had to meet certain requirements. She undertook a constructivist investigation, from an interpretive perspective, as a (primarily) qualitative study, with an interactive case study design and multimethod strategies. The smaller, quantitative component of the research study is the Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale, Second Edition (Piers-Harris 2), which offers as pre- and post-test a baseline assessment for the participants’ emotional and social development in respect of self-concept. The theoretical approach for this study is a combination of the medical deficit model and the social model, with stronger emphasis on the development and healing approach of the social model, than on the deficit-and-control approach of the medical deficit model. The focus of the study is not on the constraints suffered by the wheelchair-bound learners, but rather on the possible development that may take place in the learners through their participation in movement activities. The researcher strongly relies on the social model in an attempt to gain understanding of the problems that wheelchair-bound learners currently experience in the education system, so that schools can be developed that would meet learners’ needs. The research results offer answers to the primary and secondary research questions and the general objective of this research study has been achieved. The researcher has determined that wheelchair-bound learners show emotional and social development after participation in movement activities. The emotional intelligence of all the participants has increased and each experienced increased self-actualisation since having participated in wheelchair dancing. The research results reflect more growth in respect of the learners’ intrapersonal abilities than in their interpersonal abilities. The researcher’s specific objectives would be achieved, when she submits the research results of this study to policy makers in the Department of Education, thus expanding the boundaries of existing knowledge about the relationship between wheelchair-bound learners’ participation in movement activities and their emotional and social development. / Die belangrikheid van die emosionele en sosiale ontwikkelingsgang in die mens se ontwikkeling word deur die navorsingstudie uitgelig, terwyl die vermoë van die menslike gees tot transendensie van die menslike liggaam, die navorser inspireer het om bewegingsaktiwiteite te ondersoek as ’n moontlike sleutel tot rolstoelgebonde leerders se emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling. Die navorser het deelname aan rolstoeldanse gekies om te bepaal of rolstoelgebonde leerders op ’n emosionele en sosiale vlak ontwikkeling toon deur hul intra- en interpersoonlike vermoëns voor en ná deelname aan rolstoeldanse te ondersoek. Intra- en interpersoonlike vermoëns is interafhanklike vermoëns en word as belangrike komponente van emosionele intelligensie beskou. Die navorser het ’n doelgerigte steekproefneming gebruik in die seleksie van haar deelnemers om geldigheid en betroubaarheid in die hand te werk. Die deelnemers moes aan sekere vereistes voldoen. Sy loods ’n konstruktivistiese ondersoek vanuit ’n interpretivistiese perspektief as ’n (hoofsaaklik) kwalitatiewe ondersoek, met ’n interaktiewe gevallestudie-ontwerp en veelmetodestrategie. Die kleiner, kwantitatiewe komponent van die navorsingstudie is die Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale, Second Edition (Piers-Harris 2). Dit bied, as voor- en nátoets, ’n basislynassessering vir die deelnemers se emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling ten opsigte van selfkonsep. Die teoretiese raamwerk waaruit die navorser hierdie navorsingsprobleem benader, is ’n vermenging van die mediesetekort- en die sosiale model, met sterker klem op die ontwikkelings- en helende benadering van die sosiale model, as die tekortkominge-en-beheer-benadering van die mediesetekort-model. Die fokus van die studie is nie op rolstoelgebonde leerders se inperkinge nie, maar juis op die moontlike ontwikkeling wat deur hul deelname aan bewegingsaktiwiteite in die leerders mag plaasvind. Die navorser steun sterk op die sosiale model in ’n poging om begrip vir die probleme wat rolstoelgebonde leerders tans in die onderwys ervaar, te verkry, sodat skole ontwikkel kan word wat in leerderbehoeftes voorsien. Die navorsingsresultate bied antwoorde op die primêre en sekondêre navorsingsvrae en die algemene doelstelling van hierdie navorsingstudie is bereik. Die navorser het vasgestel dat rolstoelgebonde leerders, deur hul deelname aan bewegingsaktiwiteite, emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling toon. Al die deelnemers se emosionele intelligensie het verhoog en almal beleef groter selfverwesenliking sedert hul deelname aan rolstoeldanse. Die navorsingsresultate weerspieël groter groei ten opsigte van die deelnemers se intrapersoonlike as hulle interpersoonlike vermoëns. Die navorser se spesifieke doelstellings word bereik, wanneer die navorser die navorsingsresultate van hierdie studie aan beleidmakers in die Departement van Onderwys voorlê en daardeur die grense van bestaande kennis omtrent die verband tussen rolstoelgebonde leerders se deelname aan bewegingsaktiwiteite en hul emosionele en sosiale ontwikkeling kan uitbrei. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inklusiewe Onderwys)

This research explored the perception of the incorporation of ‘future-self’ for young people (YP) moving from specialist provision for children where the Local Authority have identified the provision as Moderate Learning Difficulties and additional needs, their parent/carers views, and the perspectives of professionals supporting their transition to mainstream further education. The ‘future-self’ approach had its basis in social cognitive theory, as the creation of imagined ‘future-selves’ is thought to influence an individual’s behaviour to aid them to work towards their aspired self (Baker, 2015; Markus & Nurius, 1986; Oysterman & James, 2011). Phase one used a case study methodology using semi-structured interviews to explore the YP and their parent/carer’s experience of transition planning having included the young person’s vision of their ‘future-self’, at aged 16. Materials were designed to aid their understanding using visual support. Phase two gained the views of YP using focus groups as they approach transition out of FE at aged 19 or older into continued training, employment, and on towards adulthood, in relation to inclusion of their vision of their ‘future-self’ in this preparation. This phase also explored the perceptions of the professionals for incorporating the young person’s view of their ‘future-self’ using semi-structured interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six stage thematic analysis to identify themes in the data. Focus groups were thematically analysed using Ritchie and Spencer’s (1994) five stage analysis. A number of themes were found for the YP at both stages, the parents/carers and the professionals. Findings indicated that the YP are more involved in the transition planning and a range of methods are applied to prepare the YP however there are a number of barriers still limiting the options for the YP such as: lack of choice available, protectiveness of others, low aspirations, failure to explore holistic longer term outcomes, insufficient multi-agency involvement, overreliance on parents, and the need for more effective strategic planning and awareness of the systems around the YP. The findings from this research indicate that applying a ‘future-selves’ approach for YP as a method to generate future aspirations to motivate YP’s behaviour has been effective as a tool to add to existing transition preparations. This could act as a way to overcome the currently existing poorer long term outcomes for YP with this population. Based upon this small scale project, further investigation would be required to assess the benefit for a wider population.

This study investigated the psychological approach and the classroom methodology needed by an educator to teach street children effectively in a special school created for them. Street children with their psychological trauma, their independent, self-sufficient outlook and educational deprivation make their adaption to the methods and educational environment of mainstream schooling difficult. To meet the special educational, psychological and emotional needs of street children, Masupatsela School was started. The study was carried out in this school. The qualitative research methodology used an action research design which consisted of a reconnaissance phase and three cycles. Each cycle made use of a planning, implementation and evaluation phase. A general plan was formulated after the reconnaissance phase and revised after each cycle. The teaching was done by the researcher using four grades of street children ranging form grade 7 to grade 10. Because of their specific psychological makeup, street children, who have lacked close, comforting and trusting relationships and role models, require a classroom environment, atmosphere and a relationship with the educator which is supportive, caring, warm and firm. To achieve this a client centred approach was used based predominantly on the therapeutic principles of congruence, empathetic understanding and unconditional positive regard. The interaction with the children was based on openness, tolerance, the affirmation of others and honest firmness. The teaching methodology was an eclectic one which made use primarily of a cognitive teaching style which was introduced incrementally over the three cycles. The main components of this style consisted of cognitive questioning, cooperative learning and strategic reading for information. The results of the study showed that both the psychological and educational approach in the classroom to be very appropriate and successful. However the wider negative contextual influences such as the school organization, staffing and curriculum made the classroom strategies difficult to sustain. It is recommended that a programme using these educational and psychological approaches and incorporating functional literacy and numeracy, vocational skills, recreation and a therapeutic programme be incorporated when designing a programme for street children in a formal setting. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)