Can the ‘Learn in peace, educate without violence’ intervention in Cote d’Ivoire reduce teacher violence? Development of a theory of change and formative evaluation results

ObjectivesTo gather evidence on whether a brief intervention (Apprendre en paix et éduquer sans violence, developed by the Ivorian Ministry of Education and Graines de Paix) to promote peace in primary schools by reducing teacher violence perpetration and improving pedagogical techniques was acceptable to teachers and affected change in intermediate outcomes.DesignMixed-methods formative research.SettingPrimary schools in Tonkpi region, Cote d’Ivoire.Participants160 teachers participating in the peace training, surveyed three times during implementation; qualitative in-depth interviews with 19 teachers and teacher-counsellors.InterventionsLearn in peace, educate without violence–a brief intervention with primary school teachers designed to promote peace in primary schools.OutcomesFor survey data, we generated composite measures of intermediate outcomes (teachers’ awareness of consequences of violence, self-efficacy in applying positive classroom management methods, acceptance of physical discipline practices in school) and used random intercept linear mixed-effects models to compare responses over time. Qualitative research included open-ended questions about acceptability and perceived need for such an intervention. A framework analysis was undertaken.ResultsFour-months post-training (vs pretraining), teachers had higher self-efficacy in applying positive classroom management methods (pre-mean=26.1; post-mean=27.5; p<0.001) and borderline lower acceptance of physical discipline practices (premean=4.2; postmean=3.6; p=0.10). We found no change in teacher awareness of the consequences of violence. Qualitatively, teachers found the intervention acceptable and understandable, perceiving it as useful because it provided methods for non-violent discipline. Teachers had mixed views about whether the techniques improved classroom dynamics.ConclusionsData suggest that the intervention is acceptable and leads to change in intermediate outcomes for teachers. Further evaluation in a randomised controlled trial is warranted.

Mothering Practices in Cambodia

The physical disciplining of children is widespread globally. To work towards ending physical disciplining, we need to understand this practice’s local and contextual justifications. In this article, we explore Cambodian mothers’ rationale for the physical disciplining of their children, as we seek to address two questions: 1) How do Cambodian mothers perceive physical discipline?, and 2) How do they negotiate and justify physical disciplining practices? Based on 10 group interviews with mothers of small children, and in different communities in Cambodia, we found that the physical disciplining is a common practice used to correct behaviours considered unhelpful, impolite or disrespectful. However, there are ambivalent attitudes toward this. This suggests that physical discipline is not a static practice, but rather one that is constantly negotiated. We argue that Barbara Rogoff’s concept of cultural scripts for parenting is well suited for making sense of how physical discipline is justified among Cambodian mothers.

Applying Socio-Emotional Information Processing Theory to Explain Child Abuse Risk: Emerging Patterns from the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted profound effects on parents, which may translate into elevated child abuse risk. Prior literature demonstrates that Social Information Processing theory is a useful framework for understanding the cognitive processes that can contribute to parental abuse risk, but the model has not adequately integrated affective processes that may coincide with such cognitions. Given that parents are experiencing intense emotions during the pandemic, the current study sought to examine how socio-emotional processes might account for abuse risk during the pandemic (perceived pandemic-related increases in harsh parenting, reported physical and psychological aggression, and child abuse potential). A sample of 304 mothers participated in an online study, reporting on their abuse risk as well as a number of socio-emotional processes. Greater approval of physical discipline and weaker anger regulation abilities were directly or indirectly related to measures of abuse risk during the pandemic, with maternal justification to use parent-child aggression to ensure obedience consistently relating to all indicators of abuse risk during the pandemic. Socio-emotional processes that include anger appear particularly relevant during the heightened period of strain induced by the pandemic. By studying multiple factors simultaneously, the current findings can inform child abuse prevention efforts.

A Comparison Between The Concept Of Meditation In Buddhism And Mur┐Qabah In Islam

Mysticism and the spiritual experiences that lie in mysticism in different world religions have always fascinated me, and a source of attraction to me. With regards to Islam and Buddhism, I believe that devotion to religious morals and duties is the key to reach contentment in life. Meditation is a vital component of almost all the religions whether revealed or non-revealed. It is a mental and a physical discipline by which the meditator strives to reach beyond the material world into the realm of the spiritual and divine world. Different religions adopt different forms of meditational techniques that emphasize on different goals. It can be union with the absolute as in Hinduism. Or it can be getting close to Allah as in Islam or to reach a highest bliss that lies beyond the mortal world that is Nirvana[i] in Buddhism, etc. It is also practiced outside the religious tradition for simply soothing and calming the mind. Many people practice meditation as a way to improve one’s mental, spiritual and also physical health. Whatever goals are sought through meditation, it is quite evident that meditation is related to spirituality and spirituality is a basic part of religion. In this article I have discussed some of the major concepts in the spiritual journey of meditation in both the disciplines and compared between them.

La ética colaborativa del displazement. La bioética del capitalismo cuestionada por la ética responsiva

Se propone en este texto una comparación entre la ética de la competencia y la ética de la colaboración, basada en dos formas distintas de entender la naturaleza humana. Las autoras se basan en la filosofía de Paul Ricoeur, Emmanuel Lévinas y Piotr Kropotkin para elaborar una ética de la colaboración, puesta en práctica mediante una disciplina física llamada displazement, la cual puede aportar herramientas filosóficas para actores de la escena actual.The Collaborative Ethics of Displazement. The Bioethics of Capitalism Challenged by Responsive EthicsAbstractThis article compares the ethics of competition with the ethics of collaboration, based on two distinct ways of undestanding human nature. The authors base their argument on the philosophical writings of Paul Ricoeur, Emmanuel Lévinas and Piotr Kropotkin, in order to propose an ethics of collaboration. This approach is put into practice through a physical discipline called displazement, which may provide philosophical tools for actors.Recibido: 29 de abril de 2020Aceptado: 12 de noviembre de 2020

Discipline and distinction in the age of the Internet: a sociological study of the fitness practice

This article examines popular fitness sports and home fitness software in China. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s theory of discipline, Norbert Elias’ study on civilization, and Jean Baudrillard’s study on the consumer society, the authors reveal the formation of a new body discipline mechanism against the background of the Internet society and the consumer society. On the one hand, the external disciplinary strategies have been upgraded, including the spatial strategy of liquidity and visibility, the linear and rhythmic time strategy, and the knowledge strategy. On the other hand, different from Foucault’s discussion of discipline, we introduce positive self-discipline. As a unique consumption practice, fitness practices promote a new form of self-discipline among practitioners who also pursue distinctive social positions. The core content of the self-discipline strategy includes code manipulation, time consumption, moral display, and self-writing. In addition, with the continuous infiltration of Internet technologies in daily life, the space-time boundaries of physical discipline gradually blur, whereas the micro-distribution of power changes into a daily distribution form.

An Ayurvedic Perspective of Hrid Dhauti in Shatkarmas and its Impact upon Human Physiology

Yoga is an ancient psycho-physical discipline used for the spiritual elevation from centuries. It starts with the sustainability and health of the body as it is the medium of human existence. Hence Yogic science emphasizes cleansing processes for the purification before the practice of asana or pranayama. It is also essential to gain the benefits of further practices such as Asana and Dhyana. Among the cleansing processes, Dhauti is a jewel. It is classified into four categories, Anatar dhauti (Digestive Track), Danta (Mouth), Hrid (Chest), and Moola shodhana (Rectum). In which Hrid Dhauti is prominent one. Here Hrid means heart, while Dhauti refers to wash organs. It is closely associated with the heart and its nearby organs such as stomach. These Hrid Dhauti is further classified into three methods, Danda (stem), Vamana (water vomiting) and Vastra (cloth). It consists of cleaning the esophagus and stomach in three ways and helps in the management of respiratory system and upper digestive system aliments. It also cleans the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to the stomach. Now it is essential to study the yogic techniques from the ayurvedic perspective. This study has been conducted to explore the physiological effect of Hrid Dhauti from the Ayurveda`s perspective.