Monthly Archives: March 2025

Bibliography: Peace Education (Part 175 of 226)

Moon, Seungho; Tocci, Charles (2017). Knowledge to (Non)Action for Nonviolence: A Conversation between Deleuzian Thought and Eastern Epistemology. AERA Online Paper Repository, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (San Antonio, TX, Apr 27-May 1, 2017). This presentation promotes cross-cultural conversation regarding the theorization of non-violence in education. Through the use of duoethnography, two researchers exchange ideas related to diversifying the notion of non-violence. Author 1, informed by Korean Taoism, Neo-Confucianism, and Donghak (Eastern Learning), argues for non-violence not as the opposite term of violence but as active action (Wuwei). Author 2 utilizes concepts from Deleuze and Guattari to connect non-violence with desire, machine, and the body without organs. We argue, "non-violence" is not a thing, but an "adjective." Non-violence as "adjective" creates an open-ended space to imagine a different approach to interpreting human interactions. This presentation will provide educators with salient epistemological frames in order to challenge and advance the field of non-violence education…. [Direct]

Bickmore, Kathy (2005). Foundations for Peacebuilding and Discursive Peacekeeping: Infusion and Exclusion of Conflict in Canadian Public School Curricula. Journal of Peace Education, v2 n2 p161-181 Sep. Formal curriculum guidelines reflect prevailing understandings and political will, and help to shape the resources available for implemented curriculum. The understandings embodied in such public curriculum reinforce patterns of social violence and injustice, yet at the same time may provide diverse students with opportunities to develop commitment and critical citizenship capacity to handle social conflict. This paper examines the discourse about conflict, social diversity, and (in)justice in the mandated English Language Arts, Health, and Social Sciences curricula of three Canadian provinces. On one hand, all these curricula acknowledge the existence of bias and multiple viewpoints, and encode expectations for conflict management and critical inquiry skills, recognition of ethno-cultural diversity, and awareness of international interdependence and justice concerns. Thus a significant proportion of the knowledge, skill, and pedagogy called for by international peace and conflict… [Direct]

Horenczyk, Gabriel; Tatar, Moshe (2004). Education in a Plural Society or Multicultural Education? The Views of Israeli Arab and Jewish School Counselors. Journal of Peace Education, v1 n2 p191-204 Jan. We suggest that in societies with highly complex and conflictual cultural diversity, different perceptions of pluralism and multiculturalism are likely to be related to divergent expectations for multicultural education. Our study examines–through semi-structured interviews–the perceptions of cultural pluralism and multicultural education among 37 Israeli school counselors from two national groups–Arabs and Jews. Our findings suggest that the majority-minority context largely determines the counselors' views of multiculturalism: Arab counselors focus primarily on the Arab-Jewish divide which places them within the unprivileged minority, whereas the Jewish counselors equate multiculturalism primarily with the approach toward Jewish immigrants who belong to their own ethnic/national group. Counselors' responses seem to reflect their national and school organizational cultures, and it is suggested that training institutions should provide them with the knowledge, values and skills to… [Direct]

Bajaj, Monisha (2004). Human Rights Education and Student Self-Conception in the Dominican Republic. Journal of Peace Education, v1 n1 p21-36 Mar. In 2001, a 3-month course in human rights based on critical inquiry was offered to 8th graders in a slum area of Santo Domingo. The students' attitudes, behaviors and knowledge of human rights principles were measured before and after the course. The curriculum focused on international principles and entrenched local problems such as discrimination against Haitian migrants, police brutality, violence against women and exploitation of child labor in free trade zones. This paper will discuss the field of human rights education, the study's findings about the nature of student response to the course and its impact on student identity, solidarity with victims of human rights abuses and self-confidence as a result of human rights education. (Contains 1 figure, 1 table and 9 notes.)… [Direct]

Cairns, Ed; Hewstone, Miles; McGlynn, Claire; Niens, Ulrike (2004). Moving out of Conflict: The Contribution of Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland to Identity, Attitudes, Forgiveness and Reconciliation. Journal of Peace Education, v1 n2 p147-163 Jan. As the integrated education movement in Northern Ireland passes its twenty-first anniversary, it is pertinent to explore the legacy of mixed Catholic and Protestant schooling. This paper summarises the findings of different studies regarding the impact of integrated education in Northern Ireland on social identity, intergroup attitudes and forgiveness and reconciliation. The research is discussed in relation to its implications for the theory and practice of integrated education in Northern Ireland and also for other societies with a legacy of ethnopolitical conflict. It proposes that integrated education in Northern Ireland impacts positively on identity, outgroup attitudes, forgiveness and reconciliation, providing hope and encouragement for co-education strategies in other countries that have suffered from prolonged conflict. Despite a number of challenges, it is clear from the research presented here that integrated education holds great both for building social cohesion and for… [Direct]

Kepenekci, Yasemin Karaman (2005). A Study of Effectiveness of Human Rights Education in Turkey. Journal of Peace Education, v2 n1 p53-68 Mar. The aim of the research is to examine the effectiveness of Civics and Human Rights Education courses taught in primary schools in Turkey. The criteria for the effectiveness of the courses are determined as "content", "educational activities", "teaching methods", "educational materials", and "evaluation of students". A total of 71 teachers teaching these courses participated in the study. The opinions of the teachers for the effectiveness of the courses were gathered by 12 open-ended questions. Content analysis method was used to analyse the views of the teachers. To conclude, more than half of the teachers think that the courses are not effective due to having mainly an informative purpose. (Contains 1 table.)… [Direct]

Roberts, Sherron Killingsworth (2005). Promoting a Peaceful Classroom through Poetry. Journal of Peace Education, v2 n1 p69-78 Mar. Today's classrooms hold many students who often possess dysfunctional approaches to conflict as entertainment. Abrasive talk shows, confrontational radio, even political debates, and the frenzy surrounding them may be considered evidence of this dysfunctional approach. Because we live in a post-9/11 reality and a time of war, the opportunity to give peace a chance in our classrooms is imperative. Through the use of formula poetry, elementary and middle school students can find organic and authentic means of reflecting and seeking conflict resolution. This manuscript outlines the thoughtful application of reading and writing poetry, in particular formula poems, for the purpose of creating and maintaining peaceful classrooms for our students…. [Direct]

Smith, Alan; Worden, Elizabeth Anderson (2017). Teaching for Democracy in the Absence of Transitional Justice: The Case of Northern Ireland. Comparative Education, v53 n3 p379-395. In many cases, political circumstances do not allow formal for transitional justice processes to occur in countries undergoing a transition from a violent past. In this paper, we ask if education can become a default front line of transitional justice work in the absence of explicit action by the state to address past injustices. Drawing from interviews with educators and using a new citizenship education programme in Northern Ireland as our case study, we argue that several factors, including organisational constraints within the education system, limit the potential of the programme for supporting transitional justice goals. While the effectiveness in this particular case is limited, Northern Ireland provides an example of a citizenship education programme that has moved away from an emphasis on national identity and embraced human rights. Other divided societies might find this model to be an effective conduit in which to promote transitional justice…. [Direct]

Armas, Andres; Dolcino, Cristina; Gass, Michael; Gough, Sarah (2016). Play for Peace as a Violence Prevention Model: Achieving "Voluntad y Convivencia". Journal of Experiential Education, v39 n4 p412-426 Dec. Violence prevention is a key focus for many intervention programs, yet little is known about how or why certain programs are able to successfully produce effective prevention efforts. The purpose of this study was to identify the essential elements of the Play for Peace (PFP) program, how it creates change in participants, and how it is successfully implemented in communities. Using an intrinsic case study research design, data were collected from participant observation and interviews and systematically sorted and triangulated to identify patterns and generalizations. Based on these findings, a multi-level experiential learning model emerged. This model focused on empowering individuals to be actively contributing and civically responsible citizens, striving with a strong will to achieve and maintain the peaceful coexistence of a nonviolent community (i.e., a culture of "voluntad y convivencia"). Recommendations on how to expand the positive effects of the PFP program are… [Direct]

Mandel, Udi; Teamey, Kelly (2016). A World Where All Worlds Cohabit. Journal of Environmental Education, v47 n2 p151-162. In response to Stefan Bengtsson's search for alternatives to Education for Sustainable Development practices outside the mainstream of the state and its policy formulations, this response outlines how our journey, experiences, and approaches reflect a de-professionalizing encounter with autonomous places of learning emerging from indigenous knowledge, social, and ecological movements in different parts of the world. The article proposes an enlivened form of inquiry-in-solidarity as an ethical and intellectual framework for such encounters. Such an alternative approach to research opens up for official policy makers in ESD and academically institutionalized researchers contributing to the "politics of policy" the possibility of an ongoing ecological conversation between different knowledge traditions and practices and ways that they may engage, critique, celebrate, and deepen the questions we each ask in times that increasingly require innovative, hopeful, and urgent answers…. [Direct]

Johnson, Ane Turner (2017). Conflicted Communities, Contested Campuses: A Cross-Case Comparison of Community Engagement at Two African Universities in Conflict Contexts. Review of Higher Education, v41 n1 p61-89 Fall. Higher education institutions around the world are sites of contestation. Armed groups have targeted universities in efforts to divert valuable resources, destabilize communities, and suppress dissent. Moreover, conflict has engendered poor relations with community members that should be characterized by collaboration between the institution and the local community. Using qualitative case study methods, this work explores the experiences of community engagement at two universities in sub-Saharan Africa in two post-conflict nations, Kenya and C√¥te d'Ivoire, in order to understand higher education's role in the community and the campus-community connection in building peaceful academic places…. [Direct]

Kaewkumkong, Ampa; Sen, Ke (2019). Challenges of the Buffer School Policy Implementation in the ASEAN Community Era: The Case of the Thailand-Cambodia Border. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, v39 n2 p237-251. Buffer Schools, an emerging Thai border school policy, was first launched in 2010 to response to ASEAN initiatives. Buffer Schools aim to establish close cooperation among neighbour countries, thereby creating a sense of historical and cultural connection that can nurture unity and confraternity in the region. This paper examines the effectiveness of implementing pilot school policy focusing on the Thailand-Cambodia border, which has faced several border disputes over the years. This paper analyses the challenges in achieving policy goals. The theoretical foundation is based on contemporary education policy implementation in practice and research. Therefore, the three dimensions of policy, people, and places are examined, together with the concept of border school development. This research employs a descriptive mixed-methods strategy that has gathered data from policy stakeholders by survey questionnaires, interviews and field study. The findings reveal that Buffer Schools face… [Direct]

Watts, Ruth (2005). Gender, Science and Modernity in Seventeenth-Century England. Paedagogica Historica: International Journal of the History of Education, v41 n1-2 p79-93 Feb. The seventeenth century in England, bounded by the scientific stimulus of Francis Bacon at the beginning and Isaac Newton at the end, seemingly saw a huge leap from the Aristotelian dialectic of the past to a reconstruction of knowledge based on inductive methods, empirical investigation and cooperative research. In mid-century, Puritan reformers inspired both by the scientific thinking of Bacon and by the educational reforms of Comenius, hoped that educational reform at both school and university level would follow political and religious changes. In 1661, after the restoration of the monarchy, the founding of the Royal Society suggested that acceptance of experimental and practical science at the highest level had been achieved and that this would impinge on education. None of these assumptions can be accepted at face value. Indeed, the whole intellectual and educational history of the seventeenth century is far more complex than often portrayed. Various scientific and… [Direct]

Fakandu, Ali Muhammed; Jemeli, Chemulwo Monicah (2019). Equitable Access to Education and Development in a Knowledgeable Society as Advocated by UNESCO. Educational Research and Reviews, v14 n6 p200-205 Mar. Any vision of knowledge societies must affirm the core aspirations for peaceful and sustainable knowledge societies in a way that acknowledges the interests of all stakeholders. It is essential to recall that knowledge societies are concerned with human development, not only with technological innovation and its impacts. This report focuses the role equitable access to education plays in achieving equitable knowledge society. UNESCO's vision of equitable knowledge societies builds on equitable access to education. The widespread recognition that equitable access to education is a major driver of economic competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy has made high-quality equitable access to education more important than ever before. The imperative for countries is to raise higher-level employment skills, to sustain a globally competitive research base and to improve knowledge dissemination to the benefit of society…. [PDF]

Awad, Yomna; Bickmore, Kathy; Radjenovic, Angelica (2017). Voices of Canadian and Mexican Youth Surrounded by Violence: Learning Experiences for Peace-Building Citizenship. Research in Comparative and International Education, v12 n1 p26-45 Mar. How do young people living in high-violence contexts express a sense of democratic agency and hope, and/or frustration and hopelessness, for handling various kinds of social and political conflict problems? The management of conflict is a core challenge and purpose of democracy, severely impeded by the isolation and distrust caused by violence. Publicly funded schools can be (but often are not) part of the solution to such challenges (Bickmore, 2014; Davies, 2011). This article is drawn from a larger on-going project probing the (mis)fit between young people's lived citizenship and conflict experiences, and their school-based opportunities to develop democratic peace-building capacities, in non-affluent local contexts surrounded by violence, in an international comparative perspective. We report on focus group conversations with several small groups of students, ages 10-15, in two Canadian and four Mexican schools in marginalized urban areas. Diverse participating young people tended… [Direct]

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Bibliography: Peace Education (Part 176 of 226)

Aktas, √ñzg√ºr (2015). War and Peace in the Pictures Drawn by the Students of a Fine Arts High School. Educational Research and Reviews, v10 n8 p1080-1087 Apr. This study aims to identify high school students' perception of war and peace. Therefore, the students were asked to draw pictures depicting war and peace. The study was conducted at a Fine Arts High School. This study is a qualitative research. According to the assessments made on the results of the study, the students drew pictures containing national and universal motifs. The pictures based on national motifs were identified with the War of Independence and Turkish Soldiers. On the other hand, symbols like pigeon and olive branch standing out in the pictures based on universal motifs. This proves how effective the preconceived perceptions of the students on war and peace are. An additional study on drawings based on the motifs of war and peace involving larger groups of students may be carried out…. [Direct]

Alexander, Hanan (2014). Education in Nonviolence: Levinas' Talmudic Readings and the Study of Sacred Texts. Ethics and Education, v9 n1 p58-68. The essay offers a Jewish account of education in nonviolence by examining the first of Emmanuel Levinas' Talmudic readings "Toward the Other." I begin by exploring Levinas' unique philosophy of religious education, which nurtures responsibility for the other, as part of an alternative to enlightenment-orientated modern Jewish thought pioneered by the likes of Gershom Scholem, Martin Buber, and Franz Rosenzweig. I then consider a question raised by Yusef Waghid and Zehavit Gross at the 2012 meeting of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain in Oxford concerning whether one must forget in order to forgive great wrong doing such as South African Apartheid or the Holocaust of European Jewry. Through an examination of Levinas' treatment of several Talmudic passages, I argue that the Jewish tradition takes a paradoxical approach to this question. We should forget in order to remember wrong doing. The spiritual process that both perpetrators and… [Direct]

Chao, Roger Y., Jr. (2017). Mobility, Mutual Recognition and ASEAN Community Building: The Road to Sustainable ASEAN Integration. Journal of International and Comparative Education, v6 n2 p105-121. This paper analyses the role of international mobility and mutual recognition to regional community building in the ASEAN region by reviewing policy documents and international student mobility statistics. ASEAN policy directives have evolved from regional economic cooperation to ASEAN Community building despite the limited mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) on professional services, and low and unbalanced intra-ASEAN student mobility. However the non-ratification of the 2011 UNESCO Asia and Pacific Recognition Convention, and the slow implementation of various regional frameworks supporting the establishment of an ASEAN Higher Education Area have limited the potential contribution of mobility and mutual recognition to the ASEAN Community building project. Recommendations to enhance its contribution includes expanding and implementing ASEAN MRAs to all professional disciplines, the development and institutionalisation of an ASEAN quality assurance system, promoting a balanced… [PDF]

Kalimullin, Aydar M.; Valeeva, Roza A. (2016). Effects of Parent-Child Relationship on the Primary School Children's Non-Violence Position Formation. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education, v11 n13 p6178-6184. The aim of the research was to identify and test experimentally the impact of parent-child relationship on the formation of the primary school children non-violence position. During the research the effectiveness of the correctional and development program "Together with my mom" was verified to promote parent-child interaction, as well as gaming technology aimed on creating a position of non-violence of primary school children. 54 schoolchildren, Kazan, Russian Federation took part in the empirical research. The complex of diagnostic instruments to research parent-child relationship characteristics, non-violent interaction of children has been applied. To identify the correlation between the received data (types of interaction between children and data on the scale of the child-parent relations), we used the method of correlation analysis, based on the calculation of Spearman's Rank Correlation…. [PDF]

Salmon, Thomas; Sayed, Yusuf (2016). Teacher Governance Reforms and Social Cohesion in South Africa: From Intention to Reality. Education as Change, v20 n3 p38-56. The governance of teachers during apartheid in South Africa was characterised by high levels of disparity in teacher distribution and in conditions of labour. In the post-apartheid context policies and interventions that govern teachers are critical, and teachers can be seen to be placed in a central role as actors whose distribution, employment, recruitment and deployment can serve to redress the past, promote equity and build trust for social cohesion. In this context, this paper examines several teacher governance mechanisms and interventions, namely the post provisioning norm and standards (PPNs), the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme (FLBP), and the South African Council of Educators. The analysis suggests that undifferentiated policy frameworks for teacher governance result in measures that weakly account for differing contextual realities and persistent inequality. Additionally, the emphasis on technocratic measures of accountability in teacher governance interventions… [Direct]

Goren, Heela; Yemini, Miri (2016). Global Citizenship Education in Context: Teacher Perceptions at an International School and a Local Israeli School. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, v46 n5 p832-853. We apply semi-structured interviews to conceptualise perceptions of global citizenship among teachers at an international school and teachers at a local public school in Israel, revealing discrepancies between theory and practice in global citizenship education (GCE). We find that teachers perceive global citizenship differently along three major axes: boundaries of global citizenship, practical aspects of GCE, and through the effect of Israel's context. This study offers a comparative perspective that discerns the differing impacts of school context and student background on teacher perceptions at different kinds of schools and highlights the importance of teacher agency in GCE…. [Direct]

Morrison, Mary Lee (2015). Peacelearning and Its Relationship to the Teaching of Nonviolence. A Response to "Nonviolent Action as a Necessary Component in Educating for Democracy". Democracy & Education, v23 n1 Article 16. This response to Peterson's (2014) "Nonviolent Action as a Necessary Component in Educating for Democracy" enlarges the discussion of the role of the teacher/educator in deciding whether or when it is responsible to facilitate the engagement of students in acts of nonviolent dissent. Ultimately it would seem that the most important of our responsibilities as educators is to provide the moral and ethical foundations and the spaces in which students feel safe and empowered to tap into their own inner teachers. In order to promote the development of active engagement toward a democratic citizenry, including the moral imperative to transform violence, students must be helped toward a holistic understanding of the structural roots of injustice and oppression in their myriad forms. This will go beyond teaching about nonviolence and dissent to include the teaching of the concepts of peace and, by corollary, peacelearning. [For Peterson's "Nonviolent Action as a Necessary… [Direct]

Nwafor, Naboth H. A.; Nwogu, Godpower A. I. (2015). Implication of Radicalisation for Nigerian Education: A Philosophical Analysis. Journal of Education and Practice, v6 n21 p201-207. The crises rocking the foundations of this world and threatening its existence have assumed a horrifying dimension. This situation is compounded by the increasing drift by young people into radicalized violent extremist militant groups. This paper attempts a conceptual analysis of the term radicalisation, the processes involved in it, its components, as well as the rationale behind the influx of young ones into radicalized violent extremist groups. It also highlights the implications of radicalisation for education in Nigeria, and finally suggests ways to assist in deradicalising the youths…. [PDF]

Heugh, Kathleen; Mohamed, Naashia (2020). Approaches to Language in Education for Migrants and Refugees in the Asia-Pacific Region. UNESCO Bangkok The Asia-Pacific region hosts the largest number of refugees and displaced people in the world, and is the place of origin for nearly half of all international migrants. However, data related to the unique language-in-education needs of refugee and migrant children in and from this area is sparse. The report aims to create a stronger knowledge base to support Member States as they formulate education policies that are responsive to the needs of such children. It aims to: (1) Examine how linguistic diversity and human mobility intersect and impact minority, migrant and refugee children's access to quality, inclusive education; (2) Link policy priorities to promising practices, based on international frameworks and lessons learned from successful programmes; and (3) Recommend steps for improving language-in-education policies and their implementation. [Funding for this paper was also provided by UNICEF's East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO).]… [Direct]

Bauermeister, Maxine L.; Diefenbacher, Lori H. (2015). Beyond Recycling: Guiding Preservice Teachers to Understand and Incorporate the Deeper Principles of Sustainability. Childhood Education, v91 n5 p325-331. Sustainability is a term with an evolving definition that applies to more than the physical environment. It speaks to the interconnectivity of every action we take (or fail to take) and to human beings' relationships with one another and their environment. A sustainable future is one in which global citizens engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration to create a just and equitable society for all. Teachers have a role in cultivating these critical competencies–and the knowledge to go along with them–in their students. As the authors point out, this involves much more than a simple classroom recycling project or a field trip to the zoo. A broad conception of sustainability will foster students' ability to understand and live harmoniously in diverse societies. Through a holistic approach to sustainability, teachers can model for students how we can bring about a more peaceful and compassionate future…. [Direct]

Monaghan, Christine (2019). Asking "Why" and "How": A Historical Turn in Refugee Education Research. Journal on Education in Emergencies, v5 n1 p35-61 Dec. History has much to offer education in emergencies scholars and practitioners. Most research in this field comprises qualitative case studies and, to a lesser extent, quantitative experimental studies, both of which tend to focus on either the impact of interventions or whether education processes or structures are a cause or effect of conflict. I argue that historical approaches enable researchers to ask different questions, to construct a narrative that establishes why specific policies and programs for refugee education were developed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or in particular refugee camps or settlements, and to determine why and how the field has changed over time. This enables the researcher to consider why and how policy and programmatic changes often have not brought lasting change to the challenges of refugee education, and to critically consider what future changes might be possible. In this article, I make the case for a turn to historical… [Direct]

Barrios-Tao, Hernando; Bonilla-Barrios, Bibiana; Siciliani-Barraza, Jos√© Mar√≠a (2017). Education Programs in Post-Conflict Environments: A Review from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. Online Submission, Revista Electr√≥nica Educare v21 n1 p1-22 Jan-Apr. Education should be considered as one of the mechanisms for governments and nations to succeed in a post-conflict process. The purpose of this Review Article is twofold: to explain the importance of education in a post-conflict setting, and to describe a few strategies that post-conflict societies have implemented. In terms of research design, a multiple case study approach has been implemented. The paper reviews a unique topic with specific reference to education plans implemented in post-conflict societies such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and South Africa. Each of them has experienced violent conflicts and has used education as a tool to succeed in their post-conflict process. In sum, there are several educational programs that involve children, young people, survivors, parents, teachers, and local communities as well as curriculums focused on teaching of cultural values and technical skills to improve the quality of life in a post-conflict setting…. [PDF]

Castro-Zarzur, Rosa; Chinen, Marjorie; Coombes, Andrea; De Hoop, Thomas; Elmeski, Mohammed (2017). Can Teacher Training Programs Influence Gender Norms? Mixed-Methods Experimental Evidence from Northern Uganda. Journal on Education in Emergencies, v3 n1 p44-78 Jul. This mixed-methods cluster-randomized controlled trial examines the impact of a teacher-training program that aimed to promote positive gender socialization in the conflict-affected region of Karamoja, Uganda. The theory of change suggests that the education system and teachers can play critical roles in promoting positive gender roles and gender equality, which has important implications for peacebuilding. Our study found evidence that the program positively influenced teachers' knowledge about the difference between gender and sex, and their attitudes toward gender roles and gender identity. We found no quantitative evidence for any short-term change in teachers' practices as a result of the program, nor did we find quantitative evidence of effects from a complementary, randomly assigned text-message intervention meant to reinforce the information delivered during the training. Qualitative research suggested that, while teachers adopted basic practices taught in the training, they… [Direct]

Tusting, Karin (2015). "I Am a Peacemaker": Writing as a Space for Recontextualizing Children's Identity in a Catholic First Communion Preparation Course. Written Communication, v32 n3 p227-253 Jul. This article reports on research addressing the role of writing as a space for producing representations of children's identity as Catholics in a First Communion preparation course. It draws on data from ethnographic participant observation over one year in a Catholic parish in England, focusing on writing in the preparation sessions, taking a social practice approach to identity and literacy. The article argues that in this course, written texts are drawn on to provide spaces within which children produce written representations of aspects of their lives that reify their identities as Catholics. Analysis of the data set demonstrates four ways in which particular kinds of identities were constructed through writing processes. Writing provided space for reframing aspects of children's unique histories and identities within a faith-based perspective; representing children as active agents in the world; producing reifications of internal emotional states in linguistic form; and making… [Direct]

Adamson, Bob; Wang, Danping (2015). War and Peace: Perceptions of Confucius Institutes in China and USA. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, v24 n1 p225-234 Mar. This paper presents perceptions of China's Confucius Institute project held by different stakeholders in China and the USA. A number of studies have been published in each place since the first establishment of Confucius Institutes in 2004, but there has not been a comparative study to date. The study, which draws on media reports related to significant milestones in the development of Confucius Institutes, shows that, in the USA, the institutes are viewed with a considerable degree of ambivalence. They are attractive for universities seeking engagement with China, but also seen as a threat to academic freedom. Domestically, Confucius Institutes are perceived as a way to soften China's international image and to promote the Chinese language and culture, although some concerns have been raised about the cost and transparency of the initiative. The paper highlights the controversial aspects of the institutes and outlines some of the challenges facing China in making the strategy… [Direct]

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