The Ruamano Project: Raising Expectations, Realising Community Aspirations and Recognising Gifted Potential in Māori Boys

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Webber ◽  
Tracy Riley ◽  
Katrina Sylva ◽  
Emma Scobie-Jennings
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Gifted And Talented ◽  
School Success ◽  
Community Members ◽  
School Contexts ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Science Practices ◽  
Junior Secondary ◽  
Zealand Secondary School ◽  
Authentic Engagement

When gifted Māori students feel they belong and find their realities reflected in the curriculum, conversations and interactions of schooling, they are more likely to engage in programmes of learning and experience greater school success. This article reports on a teacher-led project called the Ruamano Project, which investigated whether Maker and Zimmerman's (2008) Real Engagement in Active Problem Solving model (REAPS) could be adapted successfully to identify talents and benefit the student achievement and engagement of Māori boys in two rural Northland, New Zealand secondary school contexts. The project aimed to implement Treaty of Waitangi-responsive and place-based science practices by improving home–school–community relationships through the authentic engagement of whānau and iwi into the schools’ planning, implementation and evaluation of a REAPS unit. As a result of this innovation, teachers’ perceptions of Māori boys shifted, their teaching practices changed, more junior secondary Māori boys were identified as gifted by way of improved academic performance, and iwi and community members were engaged in co-designing the inquiry projects. Our research indicated that the local adaptation of the REAPS model was effective in engaging and promoting the success of gifted and talented Māori boys.

Teachers' Perceptions of Physical Aggression among Secondary School Students: A New Zealand View

2009 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Marsh ◽  
Rob McGee ◽  
Sheila Williams
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
School Students ◽  
Physical Fighting ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Zealand Secondary School

Previous research has found differences between adults' and students' perceptions of adolescents' aggressive behaviour. This study examines teachers' perceptions of physical aggression among New Zealand secondary school students. A survey assessed teachers' perceptions of problematic behaviour, and physical aggression by students towards teachers. An online survey assessed students' self-reports of physical fighting and weapon carrying. The findings show that, while teachers did not consider physical aggression a major problem in their schools, they did report frequent occurrences of physical fighting. Some teachers also reported experiencing significant physical aggression towards them by students. Student aggression was not significantly associated with teachers' perceptions of physical aggression in their schools. Teachers are facing physical aggression in their workplace, making schools a stressful working and learning environment.

scholarly journals New Zealand Secondary School Teachers' Perceptions and Practices Toward Curriculum Integration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Susan Arrowsmith
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Curriculum Integration ◽  
Secondary School Teachers ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Zealand Secondary School

<p>Curriculum integration is an approach that aims to integrate teaching across traditional subject boundaries. Curriculum integration has received a growing level of interest in recent years in New Zealand, even from secondary schools that up until now have largely retained disciplinary boundaries. However, in spite of this recent popularity, curriculum integration remains a contested concept in terms of its definition, theoretical grounding, and practice, and we still know very little about how and why teachers are enacting this idea.  This study investigated New Zealand secondary school teachers’ perceptions and practices pertaining to curriculum integration. Participants included 25 teachers and senior managers from four New Zealand secondary schools currently employing curriculum integration. A collective case study design was utilised, gathering qualitative data through focus group sessions, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. The data was analysed thematically.  The findings indicated that teachers’ theoretical understanding of integration was limited, and that most of the programmes were pragmatically founded. Factors that appeared to enhance the success of curriculum integration were the historical roots, whether the programme was initiated by teachers or senior managers, the type and degree of integration employed, if the programme ran as a special curriculum or across the whole school, the level of support received, and the timing of the programmes.  It was apparent that whilst curriculum integration has been advocated by the New Zealand Curriculum, there are still many challenges for secondary schools wishing to employ it. If this is indeed an area of future growth, then the Ministry of Education have a responsibility to provide a clear definition of, and professional development for, curriculum integration. This would help to strengthen the progressive, integrated curriculum espoused in the New Zealand Curriculum so that it is on far less shaky ground than at present.</p>

The utility of non-formal education in addressing the school dropout phenomenon : a case study of Asifundeni Secondary School in Makonde District Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 41-69
Author(s):  
Francis Muchenje ◽  
◽  
Pedzisai Goronga
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
School Dropout ◽  
School Level ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Secondary School Level

The study sought to explore students' views on the utility of non-formal education in addressing the school dropout phenomenon at secondary school level. Qualitative research approach was adopted and a case study design was utilised. The population consisted of all the students in the non-formal programme at the school from which a sample of 11 students (2 male and 9 female) was selected through purposive stratified sampling technique. Data were gathered through structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Non-formal education was seen to address the school dropout phenomenon by providing school drop outs with an opportunity to continue their education and hence becomes a form of empowerment. A number of challenges such as lack of adequate tuition in some subjects, lack of conducive learning environment as well as negative perception of non-formal education held by pupils in the formal stream and community members were identified. The study recommends that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should review the staffing situation in schools to ensure the availability of teachers in the various subjects in the non-formal stream. Schools should make an effort to provide appropriate learning facilities for students in the nonformal stream. Furthermore, schools should conscientise their communities on the importance of non-formal education.

What Helps or Hinders the Learning of Academically Talented Junior Secondary School Boys: The Stories of 123 Boys

2021 ◽  
pp. 49-64
Author(s):  
Graeme Miller
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Common Factor ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Academically Talented ◽  
Junior Secondary School ◽  
Junior Secondary ◽  
Academic Year

This paper reports on a 2016-2019 study of 123 students in the most academic Year 9 class in a large, high-achieving New Zealand state boys’ secondary school. The study asked the question: “What aspects of society, schools and teachers, home environment and your own intrapersonal qualities helped or hindered your achievement in at least one academic subject?” Data were gathered through the completion of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, either in focus groups, or individually. Arguably, the most important findings related to participant perceptions of the greatest influence supporting achievement and the single most common factor identified as hindering achievement. The greatest help was identified to be students’ own intrapersonal characteristics, and the greatest hindrance was identified to be schools and teachers. This paper reports on the main findings of the research with particular emphasis on those with relevance to educators. It also considers what the major implications are for educational practice in New Zealand schools.

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