(1997). Distinctive Qualities of the Catholic School. Second Edition. NCEA Keynote Series. The Catholic school is unique because it is a religious community within an academic community. There is a dual purpose in a Catholic school–learning and believing. This handbook provides Catholic educators with an effective tool for understanding and articulating the distinct characteristics of the Catholic school. Chapter 1 discusses ways in which the teachings of Jesus Christ inform Catholic education. Chapter 2 discusses the dual goals of learning and believing in Catholic schools–how the Catholic school is both an academic community and a community of believers. The third chapter discusses the dignity of the human being and the inalienable right to an education, parents as the primary and principal educators of their children, and the obligation of the state and church to help parents educate their children. Chapter 4 describes how the goal of Catholic schools is to permeate every education experience with the message of love and the vitality of Christ's presence. Suggested… [PDF]
(2010). The Universal Right to Education: Freedom, Equality and "Fraternity". Studies in Philosophy and Education, v29 n2 p167-182 Mar. The overall aim of the article is to analyse how the universal right to education have been built, legitimized and used. And more specifically ask who is addressed by the universal right to education, and who is given access to rights and to education. The first part of the article focuses on the history of declarations, the notion of the universal right to education, emphasizing differences in matters of detail–for example, the meaning of "compulsory", "children's rights" or "parents' rights"–and critically examining the right of the child and the right of the parent in terms of tensions between "social rights" and "private autonomy rights". Despite differences in detail, the iterations of the universal right to education do share to the full in the idea of education as such. In the second part the attempt to scrutinize the underlying assumptions legitimizing the consensus on education, focusing again on the notion of the child. In… [Direct]
(2012). Defining Face Perception Areas in the Human Brain: A Large-Scale Factorial fMRI Face Localizer Analysis. Brain and Cognition, v79 n2 p138-157 Jul. A number of human brain areas showing a larger response to faces than to objects from different categories, or to scrambled faces, have been identified in neuroimaging studies. Depending on the statistical criteria used, the set of areas can be overextended or minimized, both at the local (size of areas) and global (number of areas) levels. Here we analyzed a whole-brain factorial functional localizer obtained in a large sample of right-handed participants (40). Faces (F), objects (O; cars) and their phase-scrambled counterparts (SF, SO) were presented in a block design during a one-back task that was well matched for difficulty across conditions. A conjunction contrast at the group level {(F-SF) and (F-O)} identified six clusters: in the pulvinar, inferior occipital gyrus (so-called OFA), middle fusiform gyrus (so-called FFA), posterior superior temporal sulcus, amygdala, and anterior infero-temporal cortex, which were all strongly right lateralized. While the FFA showed the largest… [Direct]
(2017). Neoliberalism, Critical Pedagogy, and the Child. Philosophical Studies in Education, v48 p65-73. The authors' life is inundated with children. She has always had an affinity for children insofar as they appear to her to be much more inquisitive and open-minded than the average so-called adult, and thus she enjoys springing big ideas on them to see what emerges. For instance, the author recently engaged in a twenty-minute-long conversation with a seven-year-old about capitalism. One certainly could question the way the author began and framed the conversation, but, for the purpose of this paper, that matters less than the fact that the author was able to sustain a seven-year-old in such a conversation for twenty minutes and, further, that the author learned something in the process: that this particular first grader very deeply knows and feels the difference between finding an answer and being given the answer, between learning for the sake of learning and learning for the sake of being right, and, further, understands the sense of injustice that comes along with having… [PDF]
(2019). Children's Rights and Teachers' Responsibilities: Reproducing or Transforming the Cultural Taboo on Child Sexual Abuse?. Human Rights Education Review, v2 n1 p25-46. Enhancing young learners' knowledge about appropriate and inappropriate sexual behaviour is crucial for the protection of children's rights. This article discusses teachers' understandings of their practices and approaches to the topic of child sexual abuse in Norwegian upper secondary schools, based on phone interviews with 64 social science teachers. Countering child sexual abuse is a political priority for the Norwegian government, and the Committee on the Rights of the Child acknowledges several state initiatives to counter child sexual abuse through education. Nevertheless, this study finds that teachers do not address this topic adequately, indicating that cultural taboos regarding talking about and thus preventing such abuse, including rape among young peers, still prevail in Norwegian classrooms. Furthermore, emotional obstacles, including concerns about re-traumatising and stigmatising learners, hinder some teachers from addressing this topic thoroughly. Additional… [Direct]
(2013). Personal and Impersonal Stimuli Differentially Engage Brain Networks during Moral Reasoning. Brain and Cognition, v81 n1 p24-28 Feb. Moral decision making has recently attracted considerable attention as a core feature of all human endeavors. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging studies about moral judgment have identified brain areas associated with cognitive or emotional engagement. Here, we applied graph theory-based network analysis of event-related potentials during moral decision making to reveal the personal/impersonal distinction in the organization of functional connectivity. Our results indicated that the personal task had more larger long-range connections involved in frontal regions and the right hemisphere, and higher network efficiency of some frontal electrodes such as F2 than the impersonal. These might be related to brain resource reorganization contributing to efficient conflict resolution. These findings provide new insights into neural mechanisms of moral dilemmas. (Contains 2 figures.)… [Direct]
(2013). "We're Still Human Beings, We're Not Aliens": Promoting the Citizenship Rights and Cultural Diversity of Traveller Children in Schools–Scottish and English Perspectives. British Educational Research Journal, v39 n4 p733-750 Aug. This article examines the experiences of Traveller children in schools. It uses data from two studies (one in Scotland and the other in England) to examine Traveller children's views about attending school (particularly in relation to their values and ambitions), their experiences of racism and prejudice and their views on how teachers perceive them. In our research, we draw from case study data to argue that despite public policy discourse around citizenship, the reality is one in which Traveller children continue to be viewed as outsiders. Due to this positioning, they do not enjoy the same rights as other children and they are not regarded as full citizens in the school environment. We argue that in order for schools to consider issues of diversity and inclusion, they must address ways in which Traveller children can be included as full citizens in schools, particularly in relation to their marginalised position in society…. [Direct]
(2012). "How To Do Things with Words": Role of Motor Cortex in Semantic Representation of Action Words. Neuropsychologia, v50 n14 p3403-3409 Dec. Language, believed to have originated from actions, not only functions as a medium to access other minds, but it also helps us commit actions and enriches our social life. This fMRI study investigated the semantic and neural representations of actions and mental states. We focused mainly on language semantics (comprehending sentences with \action\ words versus those with \mental state\ words). While in an fMRI scanner, twenty-four healthy, right-handed adult volunteers read a series of sentences with a verb depicting either a \mental state\ (e.g., deceive, persuade) or an \action\ (e.g., punch, kick), and answered a comprehension question that followed. Overall, this task showed brain activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus and in the left posterior superior temporal sulci. While comprehending sentences with mental state terms, participants showed greater activation in left orbitofrontal, and in left precuneus areas. On the other hand, the action sentences recruited more… [Direct]
(2011). Sex Education and Student Rights: Including the Missing Actor. International Journal of Educational Reform, v20 n2 p84-110 Spr. In the West, sex education has always been a taboo subject that continues to challenge the public schools. Drawing on recent developments in some Canadian provinces, I argue that we cannot begin to address the issue of responsible sex education until we first acknowledge that students themselves have a moral and constitutional right to this kind of education. This does not mean that we disregard the voices of parents and teachers in this debate. Yet, we must take seriously the interests and rights of students if we wish to promote their flourishing as human and sexual beings. (Contains 65 notes.)… [Direct]
(2007). Report from the European Prison Education Association: December 2007. Journal of Correctional Education, v58 n4 p320-321 Dec. This article presents three organizations: (1) The Executive Board of European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA); (2) The Albanian General Directorate of Prisons; and (3) The Freemuse. The Executive Board of European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) will recommend the European Prison Education Association as Associate member at the next General Assembly. The EAEA is a European NGO with 120 member organizations from 41 countries working in the fields of adult learning. It aims to support and disseminate members' engagement in activities, partnerships, policy and curricula development, research and provision for social inclusion and cohesion, democratic participation and combating poverty and discrimination. The Albanian General Directorate of Prisons has financed a new prison education initiative. All prison schools and educational staff must find vocational schools near their institution to cooperate with and include their programs and teachers in special… [Direct]
(2011). Eugenics, Genetics, and the Minority Group Model of Disabilities: Implications for Social Work Advocacy. Social Work, v56 n4 p347-354 Oct. In the United States, genetic research, as well as policy and practice innovations based on this research, has expanded greatly over the past few decades. This expansion is indicated, for example, by the mapping of the human genome, an expansion of genetic counseling, and other biogenetic research. Also, a disability rights movement that in many ways parallels other \minority\ rights campaigns has expanded. The coexistence of these developments poses intriguing challenges for social work that the profession has yet to address in a meaningful way. These issues are especially pertinent for social work professionals in the crucial role as advocates for marginalized populations. This article describes some of the concerns of disability rights activists relative to genetic innovations and goals as well as the instrumental role of the social work community in this important debate…. [Direct]
(2013). Building Child Friendly Cities in the MENA Region. International Review of Education, v59 n4 p489-504 Sep. The notion of Child Friendly Cities (CFCs) was first developed during the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (HABITAT II), held in Istanbul in 1996. The concept is based on four general principles of the United Nations "Convention on the rights of the child": (1) fair treatment of every child, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic background etc.; (2) top priority of the best interests of the child; (3) the child's right to a better life and development; and (4) respect of children's views. In a CFC, children are encouraged to take part in the decision making processes that affect their lives. Instead of starting yet another programme for children, the development of a CFC mobilises and connects existing agencies and actors. Giving examples of some cities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, this paper demonstrates that building CFCs has induced the development of mechanisms and structures which have enabled cities to… [Direct]
(2019). Problems with Narrative in the U.S. Survey and How Fiction Can Help. History Teacher, v52 n4 p677-696 Aug. Narrative in a United States survey course is hard to avoid. The question that the author has confronted in his classes is simple: do narratives still work in the surveys now that students understand their subjectivity, in many cases, as much as their teachers? Students, like most humans, tend to like stories. As the humanities at large and history in particular struggle with the issue of declining student interest in these fields, so much so that many people view the humanities as currently in "crisis," it seems like telling stories in class should not be something to should give up on too quickly. One of the most recent and exciting ideas of how the survey can be improved revolves around the idea of "uncoverage." Lendol Calder, the pioneer of this approach, sees the sheer scope of the U.S. survey as its biggest problem. His solution, apparent in the name itself, is to deprioritize coverage, which he sees as the primary reason for much of the survey's pedagogical… [PDF]
(2019). The Protection of Historical Artifacts in Ottoman Empire: The Permanent Council for the Protection of Ancient Artifacts. Universal Journal of Educational Research, v7 n2 p600-608. The historical artifacts that reveal the social, political, aesthetic, moral, architectural, etc. stages, through which the human beings have been; which transfer and reveal information from past to present and future; which have an artistic, historical or archaeological importance are very important physical elements that the present-day civilized societies protect or must protect as cultural values. Such works both strengthen the ties to the past due to the transfer of cultural heritage to existing and future generations and plays a very important role in the writing of the past through the data provided to the researchers. The protection of the historical artifacts was under sharia laws until 1858 in Ottoman Empire, since then, some regulations were done about this issue, in the end, The Permanent Council for the Protection of Ancient Artifacts was established on 21 May 1917 and they reported their one-year activities. In the report prepared by the Council, the first point that… [PDF]
(2001). Digital Libraries: Universal Access to Human Knowledge. Report to the President. This report to the President and Congress provides an overview of digital libraries. The following related findings are discussed: the full potential of today's digital libraries to support the national challenge transformations has not yet been realized; the federal government can and should do much more to further the science, technology, and creation of digital libraries; libraries, museums, archives, and holders of other digital library collections face significant technical and operational challenges as they migrate to and maintain their holdings in digital form; and intellectual property rights need to be addressed in order to facilitate the creation of and access to digital libraries. The following recommendations are presented: support expanded digital library research in metadata, scalability, interoperability, preservation, intellectual property rights, privacy/security, and human use; establish large-scale digital library testbeds; the federal government should provide… [PDF]