scholarly journals The Pioneers of Parents' Centre: Movers and Shakers for Change in the Philosophies and Practices of Childbirth and Parent Education in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marie Bell

<p>This thesis presents the voices of 17 pioneers of the organisation parents' Centre, founded in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1952. They reflect on Parents' Centre's contribution to the welfare and happiness of young children and their parents, and the challenges and satisfactions for them as 'movers and shakers' of an entrenched system. The pioneers, 13 women and 3 men, were a group of professionals and parents educated in the progressive tradition who worked as volunteers to found and develop the organisation. They challenged the well-established and generally respected views of the policymakers of the 1950s about the management of childbirth and parent education for young children. They believed that the education and care of the child from birth to three needed to be brought into line with the progressive principles and practices which had been gaining ground in the schools and pre-schools of New Zealand since the 1920s and which emphasised holistic development, especially the psychological aspects. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory I set the study within the social climate of the 1950s to assess the contribution the changing times made to the success of the organisation. I identified the social and economic forces which brought change both in the institutions of society and within every day family life, particularly for young children and their parents. As researcher, I added my voice to their reflections while also playing the role of analyst. The study used an oral history method to record the stories of the participants from a contemporary perspective. My involvement in the organisation over 50 years gave me insider knowledge and a rapport with the people interviewed. Using a loosely structured interview I adopted a collegial method of data gathering. A second interview, two years after the first, informed the pioneers about my use of the interview material and gave opportunities for critical comments on my analysis. It became apparent that under the leadership of Helen Brew, parents' Centre was able to influence change. Analyses of the background of the pioneers and of the educationalists who influenced them in training, career and parenthood show that key influences on the pioneers were lecturers at Wellington and Christchurch Training Colleges and Victoria University of Wellington. The liberal thrust of these educational institutions reinforced similar philosophical elements in the child rearing practices experienced by the pioneers. Overall, the pioneers expressed satisfaction with the philosophies and practice they advocated at that time, their achievements within Parent's Centre, and pride in founding a consumer organisation effective for New Zealand conditions. They saw Parents' Centre as having helped to shape change. This study documents the strategies used by Parents' Centre to spread its message to parents, policy makers and the general public. At the end of the study the pioneers were in agreement that the change in the role of women, particularly as equal breadwinners with men, presented a challenge to the consumer and voluntary aspects of the organisation of Parents' Centre today. Some felt the organisation had lost its radical nature and was at risk of losing the consumer voice. Nonetheless, all the pioneers felt that Parents' Centre still had a part to play in providing effective ante-natal education 'by parents for parents' and a continuing role in working for change in the services in accordance with the needs of parents and children under three.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Marie Bell

<p>This thesis presents the voices of 17 pioneers of the organisation parents' Centre, founded in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1952. They reflect on Parents' Centre's contribution to the welfare and happiness of young children and their parents, and the challenges and satisfactions for them as 'movers and shakers' of an entrenched system. The pioneers, 13 women and 3 men, were a group of professionals and parents educated in the progressive tradition who worked as volunteers to found and develop the organisation. They challenged the well-established and generally respected views of the policymakers of the 1950s about the management of childbirth and parent education for young children. They believed that the education and care of the child from birth to three needed to be brought into line with the progressive principles and practices which had been gaining ground in the schools and pre-schools of New Zealand since the 1920s and which emphasised holistic development, especially the psychological aspects. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory I set the study within the social climate of the 1950s to assess the contribution the changing times made to the success of the organisation. I identified the social and economic forces which brought change both in the institutions of society and within every day family life, particularly for young children and their parents. As researcher, I added my voice to their reflections while also playing the role of analyst. The study used an oral history method to record the stories of the participants from a contemporary perspective. My involvement in the organisation over 50 years gave me insider knowledge and a rapport with the people interviewed. Using a loosely structured interview I adopted a collegial method of data gathering. A second interview, two years after the first, informed the pioneers about my use of the interview material and gave opportunities for critical comments on my analysis. It became apparent that under the leadership of Helen Brew, parents' Centre was able to influence change. Analyses of the background of the pioneers and of the educationalists who influenced them in training, career and parenthood show that key influences on the pioneers were lecturers at Wellington and Christchurch Training Colleges and Victoria University of Wellington. The liberal thrust of these educational institutions reinforced similar philosophical elements in the child rearing practices experienced by the pioneers. Overall, the pioneers expressed satisfaction with the philosophies and practice they advocated at that time, their achievements within Parent's Centre, and pride in founding a consumer organisation effective for New Zealand conditions. They saw Parents' Centre as having helped to shape change. This study documents the strategies used by Parents' Centre to spread its message to parents, policy makers and the general public. At the end of the study the pioneers were in agreement that the change in the role of women, particularly as equal breadwinners with men, presented a challenge to the consumer and voluntary aspects of the organisation of Parents' Centre today. Some felt the organisation had lost its radical nature and was at risk of losing the consumer voice. Nonetheless, all the pioneers felt that Parents' Centre still had a part to play in providing effective ante-natal education 'by parents for parents' and a continuing role in working for change in the services in accordance with the needs of parents and children under three.</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Yusy Widarahesty

The phenomenon of gender gap in Japan has brought many impacts of change in Japan from the declining birth rate and including the emergence of non-profit organizations (NPO) action groups namely "Fathering Japan"(Ikumen) founded by Tatsuya Ando in 2006, which tried to present as a form of resistance ideology from the myth of "Gender Stereotypes" hegemony in Japan.Ando established the NPOto encourage present and future fathers to play a more active role in child-rearing.“The priority of traditional Japanese fathers is work ... they don't know what to do even when they come home early," said Tetsuya Ando. Thus, it is important to study this social and cultural phenomenon to understand the whole structure of Japanese non-traditional security problem that can be seen through the “Fathering Japan” as a new discourse. By using the discourse alternative approach to analyze the role of the social movement of "Fathering Japan" (Ikumen) as the resistance ideology from Japan cultural mythology, the study was conducted by using qualitative methods through the Discourse Analysis by Ernesto and Chantal Mouffe.Keywords: Fathering Japan, discourse, Non Profit Organization, gender gap, JapanAbstrakFenomena kesenjangan gender di Jepang telah membawa banyak dampak perubahan di Jepang dari tingkat kelahiran yang menurun dan termasuk munculnya  Organisasi Non Profit  (NPO) yaitu "Fathering Japan" (Ikumen) yang didirikan oleh Tatsuya Ando pada 2006, yang mencoba menyajikan bentuk ideologi perlawanan dari mitos hegemoni "Gender Stereotypes" di Jepang. Ando mendirikan NPO untuk mendorong ayah hadir di masa depan untuk memainkan peran yang lebih aktif dalam membesarkan anak. "Prioritas ayah tradisional Jepang adalah pekerjaan ... mereka tidak tahu apa yang harus dilakukan bahkan ketika mereka pulang lebih awal," kata Tetsuya Ando.Dengan demikian, penting untuk mempelajari fenomena sosial dan budaya ini untuk memahami keseluruhan struktur masalah keamanan non-tradisional Jepang yang dapat dilihat melalui "Fathering Japan" sebagai diskursus baru. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan diskursus alternatif  untuk menganalisis peran gerakan sosial "Fathering Japan" (Ikumen) sebagai ideologi perlawanan dari mitologi budaya Jepang, penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode kualitatif melalui Analisis Wacana oleh Ernesto dan Chantal Mouffe .Kata kunci: fathering Jepang, diskursus, NPO, ketimpangan gender, Jepang


Author(s):  
Albert O. Hirschman

This chapter challenges the defeatism of Hirschman's friends and colleagues during the 1950s–1960s, when numerous political and social upheavals were happening worldwide. In this chapter, Hirschman explains that many of the so-called “structural causes”—a term advanced by his Latin American colleagues in the social sciences which refers to entrenched obstacles that make all efforts to change self-defeating—are ideological constructs. The chapter discusses two obstacles to the perception of change: the persistence of traits which are related to the “little traditions,” as well as the bias in the perception of cumulative change. It argues that the real, “stealthy” change that was actually occurring is being obscured in the process and the vital role of political and intellectual leadership is thus ignored.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. Grissom ◽  
Michelle Reininger

While a large literature examines the factors that lead teachers to leave teaching, few studies have examined what factors affect teachers’ decisions to reenter the profession. Drawing on research on the role of family characteristics in predicting teacher work behavior, we examine predictors of reentry. We employ survival analysis of time to reentry for exiting teachers using longitudinal data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth. We find that younger, better paid, and more experienced teachers are more likely to reenter. We also find that women are more likely to return to teaching than men. Child rearing plays an important role in this difference. Women are less likely to reenter with young children at home. We conclude that reentrants may be an important source of teacher labor supply and that policies focused on the needs of teachers with young children may be effective ways for districts to attract returning teachers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 38-49
Author(s):  
Niccolò Martini

Voluntary death is a morally and legally grey area in many countries around the world. In my research I studied the topic of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Italy. Specifically, I analyzed the relationship between collective law and individual morality using as case study the phenomenon of voluntary death, which has been making people talk about itself in recent years precisely because of its as yet undefined nature. Using a qualitative approach i.e., semi-structured interview, I listened the voices of a representative sample of Italian doctors in order to collect the opinion of the medical class i.e., the social group that would be most affected by the possible legalization of euthanasia. It has emerged, among other things, that Italy lacks a real education to death. The research has opened a reflection on the range of voluntary death within a Nation where it is illegal. Numerous studies have determined the enormous symbolic baggage present within the concept of death, but in the study of the legalization of voluntary death a new factor has emerged: a legalization is not desired until the population receives a real education on the idea of having to die. Like sex, death is still a taboo in many societies around the world. Is it therefore necessary to fulfill a death education before even start to talk about creating a general law. This research has exalted not only a cultural deficiency but also the desire to remedy it through education, in order to exorcise the fear of an event that sooner or later everyone has to face.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Herbert ◽  
Margaret Forster ◽  
Timothy McCreanor ◽  
Christine Stephens

<p class="Abstract">To broaden public health approaches to alcohol use, this study provides an initial exploration of the social context of alcohol use among Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand, from the perspectives of older Māori. Utilising a Māori-centred research approach, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 13 older Māori people to explore their personal experiences of alcohol use across their lifetime. Thematic analysis was used to identify common themes that contextualised stories of alcohol use within a Māori cultural framework. Four themes were identified: alcohol use within (1) a sporting culture, (2) a working culture, (3) the context of family, and (4) Māori culture. These themes highlight the influence of social factors such as the desire to socialise and seek companionship; the physical location of alcohol use; the importance of social networks, particularly <em>whānau</em> (family); and the role of cultural identity among Māori. In regard to cultural identity, the role of the <em>marae</em> (traditional meeting place/s of Māori), <em>tikanga</em> (the right way of doing things), and the relationship of <em>kaumātua</em> (respected elder) status to personal and whānau alcohol use are highlighted as important focuses for further research among Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand.</p>


Author(s):  
L. Gurr

Four species of bumblebees, Bombus horforum, B. ruderafus, B. subterraneus and B. terrestris, are now established and widespread in New Zealand. The long-tongued species, B. hortorum, B. ruderatus, and B. subterraneus, are very effective pollinators of red clover but not of lucerne. Bombus terrestris is short-tongued, "robs" red clover, and is thus less effective as a pollinator of this crop but is a most efhcient pollinator of lucerne. Research on bumblebees in New Zealand was first concerned with identification of the species and their distribution. Since the 1950s biological aspects have received increasing attention and success has been achieved with local enhancement of bumblebee populationsintroduction of B. horforum to Manawatu district and increase of local populations in Mackenzie Country. It is considered that manipulation of populations of the species now present offers most promise for increase in pollination, and hence seed yield, of red clover and luccrne in New Zealand.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 643-649
Author(s):  
Syeda Mahnaz Hassan ◽  
Aliya Khalid ◽  
Muhammad Arshad ◽  
Shajiah Qursam

This paper aims to explore the role of professional social workers in the social inclusion of disabled persons in Pakistan. This paper highlights the present scenario of social work practice with the disabled community and how professional social workers are bringing social inclusion of disabled persons by working effectively in the field. The data for this study was collected through qualitative approach. The semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through in-depth interviews from thirteen professional social workers who are working for the social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Pakistani community. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The data revealed that social workers have enough abilities to create a bridge between disabled persons with their community. There are different sources present in the community which can be utilized by professional social workers to enable disabled persons to live a normal life. Unawareness of common people and government towards the roles of social workers has been observed in this study. Enhancement and encouragement of social work practice in the field of disability is particularly needed.


2019 ◽  
pp. 81-88

This article explores the language picture of the World and its varieties, the role of children's world picture and the features of its study. Also,special attention is paid to the Turkic children's worldview of the 11th century, set forth in the famous "Divan" by Mahmoud Kashgary. Some comments are given to the analysis of the concept of "children's world picture ".The study of the language concepts of the world, which we have analyzed in the book “Devanu lugat-it Turk” (DLT), which covers LPW in every aspect of the social life of the Turkic peoples in the 11th century, is also important. Different stages of children’s life can be birth, growth, speech, cradle life, walking; mother and child, father and child, children and adults, children's games and many words on toys, toys and fairy tales, child rearing, methods and tools. According to Turkish researchers Zekerya Batur (Batur Zekerya) and Merve Beshtash (Beştaş Merve) 145 words out of 8000 in “Devan” illustrate children’s world, their growth, education process and teaching.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Hatib Rahmawan

The important role of Egypt in the Resurrection of the Islamic world is did not happen suddenly, but he had to go through a dark history, that was colonialized by Napoleon Bonaparte. Even though Napoleon ruled Egypt for three years, but his presence woke the Egyptian consciousness to progress and change. This paper aims to uncover the changes that occurred in Egypt in the fields of education, issues, economy, culture, and politics post-Napoleon invasion. From this, a main problem can be formulated as follows; How was the change in education, religion, social, economy, culture, and politics post-Napoleon invasion? This paper uses the liberary research method, which is combined with the model of writing history to reveal the relationship between historical facts with changes that occured. The important information obtained from this post-Napoleon study include; (1) in the field of education raises awareness of the underdevelopment of science, the development of various educational infrastructure, recognizing the importance of freedom and independence in the development of science; (2) Encouraging changes in perspectives and models of religion towards a more rational and solutions to the changing times; (3) in the social and cultural sphere the idea of equality (legalite) and equality between rulers and people was born and the development of war technology, weapons and military training adopted from France; (4) in the political field gave rise to the idea of nationalism and republican government; and (5) in the economic field to encourage the development of industrialization and agrarian reform.


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