Bahrain Teachers Research Articles

Working on the Revolution in Bahrain: From the Mass Strike to Everyday Forms of Medical Provision

The 2011 Arab Spring uprising with the highest levels of popular support took place in Bahrain. This level of mobilization was due in part to the organizational capacity of trade unions and professional associations, and yet their role in the ‘near-revolution’ has received very little scholarly attention. In contrast to Egypt and Tunisia, where the official trade union federations played an ambiguous or even hostile role as workers began to organize strikes during the protests against Ben Ali and Mubarak, the official General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions not only supported the protests against the Al Khalifa regime, but called for two general strikes. As significant as the strikes were, the work of unpaid volunteers constituted another less recognized, but equally important form of labor activism. Understanding the mass mobilization in Bahrain, and elsewhere, requires an encompassing approach to labor: one that can conceptualize equally the ability of collectivities to stop working, but also the ability to collectively continue to work, even on an unpaid basis. I will illustrate the contradictory role of the labor movement with examples from the Bahrain Teachers’ Association and the Bahrain Nursing Society. The majority of members of both associations were women. Finally, the Bahraini regime punished both forms of labor activism – both the teachers who went on strike, and the nurses who declared they would not strike but continue to work and care for the injured protesters.

Bahraini School English Language Teachers’ Beliefs and Professionalism under New Educational Reforms in Bahrain: An Interpretive Perspective

This study sought to explore Bahraini beliefs about teaching and learning as they related to their daily work and their interactions with the contexts in which they worked and lived so as to construct a deeper understanding of their professionalism. It particularly investigated the effects of contextual factors, in light of the recent educational reform initiatives in Bahrain, on the professional lives of practicing Bahraini school English language teachers who completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) at Bahrain Teachers College (BTC) between 2008 and 2012. Research data were collected through face-to-face semi- structured in-depth interviews with twelve teachers in the primary, intermediate and secondary schools, whose experiences ranged between four to ten years at the time of the interviews. The research revealed that the professional lives were influenced by three main contextual factors: intensification of work, marginality of teachers and control in education. These factors were found to be complex as they were not only influenced by the educational system and the environment in which the teachers worked and lived but also by personality issues. Hence, although these factors significantly impacted upon the professional autonomy and commitment, created moral dilemmas for them, and brought with them the question of what it means to be a teacher under increasing scrutiny, the findings showed that the consequences of these factors on the professionalism varied from teacher to teacher and from context to context, emphasising that this impact was largely mediated by the values and sense of professional identity. The study highlights the situated nature of beliefs and the importance of considering professional identities, values and moral purposes in any educational reform attempts that aim to improve teacher practice. This study also has implications for teacher beliefs and knowledge, teacher professionalism, and teacher education.

Endangered Scholars Worldwide

Endangered Scholars Worldwide Ebby Sharifi Social Research was founded by a group of scholars known as the University in Exile, refugees from Nazi Europe who found a home at the New School. In each issue we publish the names and details of scholars, researchers, and students who have been threatened or imprisoned, along with ways to offer them support. We see this effort as consistent not only with our own history as a journal but with the need to call attention to the increasing and often brutal attempts to silence our colleagues around the world. If you are aware of a scholar or student whose case you believe we should investigate, please contact us at socres@newschool.edu. The information in this report is current, to the best of our knowledge, as of May 24, 2014. Additional information and more recent information about many of these cases, as well as sample letters of protest, may be found on our website at http://www.newschool.edu/cps/endangered-scholars/. SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS: NEW AND CONTINUING CASES BAHRAIN Scholars and Researchers: Previously featured scholars from Bahrain who remain in prison include mahdi ‘issa mahdi abu dheeb, former president of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association, who was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on October 21, 2012, on charges of “inciting hatred against the regime” and “attempting to overthrow and change the regime by force”; and dr. abdul-jalil al-singace, professor of engineering at the University of Bahrain, sentenced to life in prison by the military National Safety Court on charges of “plotting to topple” the government in June 2011. Reports indicate that his health condition is critical. [End Page v] Students: On April 16, 2014, ahmad hassan ali mshaima’, who was arrested on December 28, 2013, was charged with “illegal gathering with an intent to commit crimes and disturb public security” following protests to mark the second anniversary of the uprising on February 14, 2013. He told the judge that he had been tortured in prison. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in jail ahmed al arab, 22, a nursing student from Bani Jamra, was arrested on January 9, 2014, in Hamad Town. Reports indicate that Al Arab was severely tortured in order to extract a confession and is suffering from resulting injuries. According to his family, Al Arab is not being allowed access to medical care that he urgently needs. On May 12, 2014, Al Arab’s family was able to visit him for 35 minutes. During the visit, Al Arab informed his family that while in detention he was stripped naked and hung from his wrists while they were handcuffed behind his back. He was repeatedly insulted and assaulted and deprived of sleep. When Al Arab refused to sign the confession paper, the interrogators applied waterboarding tactics on him. As of this report his health condition remains critical. Previously featured students who remain in jail include student activist ahmed aoun, arrested by authorities when he sought treatment at a hospital following an eye injury inflicted by police during protests on May 13, 2012; and six students, all sentenced to 15 years in prison at a trial on March 5, 2012, as part of a crackdown on student involvement in pro-democracy demonstrations: jawad al-mahary, shawqi radhi, jassim al hulaini, jassim al-mukhodher, and yousif ahmed. Please send appeals to: His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa Office of His Majesty the King The Amiri Court P.O. Box 555 Rifa’a Palace Al-Manama Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 176 64 587 Website: http://www.mofa.gov.bh/ Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa Diplomatic Area P.O Box # 450 Al-Manama Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 175 13 333 Dr. Fatima Al-Balooshi Minister of Human Rights and Social [End Page vi] Development, Acting Minister of Health Ministry of Human Rights and Development Manama Tel: +973 176 82 422 Kingdom of Bahrain Email: fatima.albalooshi@social.gov.bh/ dr.albalooshi@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ fatima.albalooshi. BENIN Students: On November 12, 2013, a previously featured student leader, damien dégbé, was arrested following his...

Educational Research: A Study on Teachers’ Professional Practice

This study reports work-in-progress (University of Bahrain/Bahrain Teachers College (BTC) Research Project Hassan & Saravanan, 2012/49),on BTC Initial Teacher Education programmes engaged in professional development at the Bahrain Teachers College, Bahrain, which has been given the national task of reforming educational practices and develop professionalism in government schools www.btc.uob.edu.bh/index/html. www.bahrainedb.bh (Bahrain Education Reform, 2006).

Endangered Scholars Worldwide

Endangered Scholars Worldwide Social Research wasfounded by a group ofscholars known as the University in Exile, refugeesfrom Nazi Europe whofound a home at the New School. In each issue we publish the names and details ofscholars, researchers, and students who have been threatened or imprisoned, along with ways to offer them support. We see this effort as consistent not onlywith our own history as ajournal but with the need to call attention to the increasing and often brutal attempts to silence our colleagues around the world. Ifyou are aware of a scholar or student whose case you believe we should investigate, please contact us at socres@newschool.edu. The information in this report is current, to the best of our knowledge, as ofDecember 1,2013. Additional information and more recent information about many of these cases may be available on our website at http://www.newschool. edu/cps/endangered-scholars/. SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS: NEW AND CONTINUING CASES BAHRAIN Previously featured scholars from Bahrain who remain in prison include m a h d i ‘is s a m a h d i a b u d h e e b , form er president of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association (BTA), sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on October 21, 2012, on charges of “inciting hatred against the regime” and “calling to overthrow and change the regime by force”; and d r . a b d u l -ja l il a l-sin g a c e , professor o f engineering at the University of Bahrain, sentenced to life in prison on charges of training and financ­ ing a terrorist organization. Endangered Scholars Worldwide v His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa Office of His Majesty the King P.O. Box 555 Rifa’a Palace Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 176 64 587 Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa Ministry ofJustice and Islamic Affairs P.O. Box 450 Al-Manama Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 175 31 284 Appeals to: CAMEROON Previously featured scholar e n o h m e y o m e s s e , a writer, political activist, historian, and founder of the Cameroon Writers Association, remains in prison. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on December 27, 2012, on charges of illegally trafficking gold. Appeals to: His Excellency Paul Biya Dr. Chemuta Divine Banda President of the Republic of Cameroon Chairman Office of the President National Commission on Human Rights P.O. Box 100 and Freedoms Yaounde B.P. 20317 Yaounde Republic of Cameroon Republic of Cameroon Phone: +237 22 22 61 17 Fax: +237 22 22 60 82 Email: cndhl@iccnet.cm CHINA On November 4, 2013, a spokesperson for Toyo Takuen University near Tokyo, Japan, confirmed that one of the university’s professors of Sino-Japanese affairs, Chinese scholar z h u ji a n r o n g , has been held incommunicado by Chinese authorities since mid-July 2013. He went missing in mid-July while on a trip to Shanghai and was unable to communicate with family until over three months later when a Dr. Fatima Al-Balushi Minister of Human Rights and Social Development, Acting Minister of Health Ministry of Human Rights and Development Manama Kingdom of Bahrain vi social research letter penned by Zhu made it to his brother in Shanghai. The letter only confirms that he is being detained by Chinese authorities and does not specify when he will be released. Prior to his disappearance, Zhu had been engaged in a research project involving interviews with officials of the Chinese military. X i a Y e l i a n g , a professor of economics at Peking University, was dismissed from his position on October 15,2013, following publications in which he expressed liberal views and criticized the Chinese govern­ ment. Although university officials released a statement claiming that the dismissal was due to a poor teaching record, several organizations and universities throughout the world, including Scholars at Risk, have expressed concern that the move was politically motivated. Xia was one of the first to sign Charter 08, a call for democratic reforms and respect for human rights, coauthored by previously featured scholar and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, l i...

Educational Initiatives in Teacher Education Reform: Curriculum Intervention and Curriculum Innovation

This paper will focus upon education reform initiatives undertaken in teacher education programmes through innovative pedagogy and a learner-centered research agenda (Darling-Hammond et al., 2005); at Bahrain Teachers College (BTC) (see Bahrain Education Reform, 2006). These educational initiatives have been undertaken in order to reform the Bahraini K-12 school system.

Endangered Scholars Worldwide

Endangered Scholars Worldwide Social Research wasfounded by a group o fscholars known as the University in Exile, refugees from Nazi Europe who found a home at the New School. In each issue we publish the names and details o fscholars, researchers, and students who have been threatened or imprisoned, along with ways to offer them support. We see this effort as consistent not only with our own history as a journal but with the need to call attention to the increasing and often brutal attempts to silence our colleagues around the world. We urge readers to write letters on behalf o f these scholars, researchers, and students. Sample letters can befound on our website at www.newschool.edu/ cps/endangered-scholars. Ifyou are aware of a scholar or student whose case you believe we should investigate, please contact us at esw@newschool.edu. The information in this report is current, to the best ofour knowledge, as of June 21, 2013. Additional information and more recent information about many of these cases may be available on our website at http://www.newschool.edu/cps/ endangered-scholars/. SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS: NEW AND CONTINUING CASES BAHRAIN Previously featured scholars from Bahrain who rem ain in prison include j a l il a a l -s a l m a n and m a h d i ‘is s a m a h d i a b u d h e e b , both board members of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association, sentenced to six months and five years, respectively, on October 21, 2012, on charges of “inciting hatred against the regime” and “calling to overthrow and Endangered Scholars W orldw ide v change the regime by force”; d r . a b d u l -j a l i l a l -s in g a c e , professor of engineering at the University of Bahrain, sentenced to life in prison on charges of training and financing a terrorist organization; and r u l a a l -s a f f e r , assistant professor at the College of Health Sciences and head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, sentenced on September 29, 2011, to 15 years in prison. Appeals to: His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa Office of His Majesty the King P.O. Box 555 Rifa’a Palace Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 176 64 587 Dr. Fatima Al-Balushi Minister of Human Rights and Social Development, Acting Minister of Health Ministry of Human Rights and Development Manama Kingdom of Bahrain Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa Ministry ofJustice and Islamic Affairs P.O. Box 450 Al-Manama Bahrain Fax: +973 175 31 284 CAMEROON Previously featured scholar e n o h m e y o m e s s e , a writer, political activist, historian, and founder of the Cameroon Writers Association, remains in prison. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on December 27,2012, on charges of illegally trafficking gold. Appeals to: His Excellency Paul Biya President of the Republic of Cameroon Office of the President P.O. Box 100 Yaounde Republic o f Cameroon Dr. Chemuta Divine Banda Chairman National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms B.P. 20317 Yaounde Cameroon Phone: +237 22 22 61 17 Fax : +237 22 22 60 82 Email: cndhl@iccnet.cm vi social research C H IN A Authorities are continuing to retaliate against imprisoned human rights activist and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate l i u x i a o b o by targeting mem bers o f his family, this tim e his brother-in-law, l i u h u i , who was arrested in March 2013 and sentenced to 11 years of imprisonm ent on June 9, 2013, on charges of financial fraud over a real estate dispute. According to lawyers, the dispute was resolved months prior to the arrest and the criminal charges are unfounded. Liu Xiaobo, who has been featured numerous tim es in Endangered Scholars Worldwide, has been held in Jinzhou Prison since his arrest in December 2008 for “inciting subversion of state power.” His wife, Liu Xia, has been under house arrest since Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010...

Developing Critical Literacy: Teacher Candidates in Initial Teacher Education Programmes

This paper will focus on recent curriculum initiatives in developing academic literacy in English as a requirement in Initial Teacher Education programmes, the PGDE (Post-Graduate Diploma in Education Programme) and in the BEd (Bachelor of Education Programme). The course in which these new curriculum initiatives were implemented is instructed in two languages, English and Arabic, at the Bahrain Teachers College. This impetus in curriculum initiatives is a result of the reform movement in Bahrain, (Bahrain Education Reform, 2006). This paper will discuss the processes and the strategies enabling the development of critical academic literacy in teacher candidates. These enabling strategies are for developing both content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge across several academic courses at BTC.

Gulf Comparative Education Society’s Third Annual Symposium on Global Innovation, Local Transformation: Trends & Reactions

"The Gulf Comparative Education Society (GCES) organized its third annual symposium under the sponsorship of the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research and in collaboration with Bahrain Teachers College. Entitled ‘Global Innovation, Local Transformation: Trends & Reactions,’ the symposium was held at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Kingdom of Bahrain on Saturday March 24 and Sunday March 25, 2012. The symposium consisted of one keynote address, three panels, and four breakout sessions with a total of 45 presentations made by invited speakers as well as those who submitted abstracts. The speakers came from a wide variety of countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Switzerland, England, and the United States and represented different voices in the education sector, ranging from policy makers, academics and researchers, school providers and leaders, consultants, and teachers. The purpose of this year’s GCES symposium was to identify and examine the use of global innovations in education in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well as the ways in which they are adapted (or not) to suit the needs of the environment. Delivering the keynote on the role of and relationship between professional and vocational education in the GCC was Dr. David Guile, Professor of Education and Work at the Institute of Education, University of LondonThe remaining panels and breakout sessions addressed the following topics: • Education Reforms in Bahrain • Technology & Innovation • Student Participation in Education: Trends & Reactions • Systems & Standards in GCC Schools • Transforming Science Curricula • The Use of E-portfolio in Evaluating Public Schools • Relationships and Academic Achievement • English Language Programs in the GCC In addition, the symposium brought together over 200 participants working in a range of organizations across Bahrain, the Gulf states, and beyond, all of whom shared an interest in comparative education in the GCC. Following the symposium presenters were asked if they would like to submit a 1500 – 3000 word paper on their presentation. This volume is the compilation of those who submitted papers. While it does not cover all of the presentations that were made at the symposium, presentation slides for all the presentations are available on the GCES website (www.gulfcomped.ning.com). Dr. Ali Ibrahim - President Dr. Hamood Al-Harthi - Vice President Samar Farah - Secretary"

Endaazngered Scholars Worldwide

Endangered Scholars Worldwide Social Research wasfounded by a group ofscholars known as the University in Exile, refugeesfrom Nazi Europe whofound a home at the New School. In each issue we publish the names and details ofscholars, researchers, and students who have been threatened or imprisoned, along with ways to offer them support. We see this effort as consistent not only with our own history as ajournal but with the need to call attention to the increasing and often brutal attempts to silence our colleagues around the world. Ifyou are aware of a scholar or student whose case you believe we should investigate, please contact us at socres@newschool.edu. SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS: NEW AND CONTINUING CASES BAHRAIN Previously featured scholars from Bahrain who rem ain in prison include j a l i l a a l -s a l m a n and m a h d i ‘i s s a m a h d i a b u d h e e b , both board members of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association, sentenced to 3 and 10 years, respectively, on charges of “inciting hatred against the regim e” and “calling to overthrow and change the regime by force” following the group’s call for a teacher strike in March 2011; d r . a b d u l -j a l i l a l -s i n g a c e , a professor of engineering at the University of Bahrain, sentenced to life im prisonm ent on June 22, 2011, on charges of training and financing a terrorist organization, and report­ edly tortured during his pretrial detention; and r u l a a i -s a f f e r , Assistant Professor at the College of Health Sciences and the Head of Information current, to the best of our knowledge, as of June 10, 2012. Additional information and more current information about many of these cases may be avail­ able on our website at . Endangered Scholars W orldw ide v the Bahrain Nursing Society, sentenced on September 29, 2011, to 15 years in prison. Appeals to: His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa Office of His Majesty the King P.O. Box 555 Rifa’a Palace Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 176 64 587 Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa Ministry ofJustice and Islamic Affairs P.O. Box 450 Al-Manama Bahrain Fax: +973 175 31 284 CHINAA g u c h u a n , a scholar, editor, and blogger, has been denied permission to leave China in order to take up a visiting scholar position at Columbia University in New York. On April 4, 2012, while attempting to leave China, he and his family were stopped at airport security, detained, and interrogated. Gu’s passport and US visa were confiscated during the detention. He was told that his departure for the United States would “endanger national security.” According to a report from Scholars at Risk, police presence has increased around his home since he and his family returned to their apartment. Chinese authorities have not publically stated reasons for denying Gu’s permission to travel. Scholars featured in previous issues who remain in prison in China include writer and editor t a s h i r a b t e n (pen name t e ’u r a n g ), sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment on June 2, 2011, for his critical political writings; l i u x i a o b o , a human rights activist and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, held in an undisclosed location in Beijing since his arrest in December 2008 for “inciting subversion of state power”; and g u o q u a n , a former literature professor at Nanjing Normal University, Dr. Fatima Al-Balushi Minister of Human Rights and Social Development, Acting Minister of Health Ministry of Human Rights and Development Manama Kingdom of Bahrain vi social research sentenced to 10 years in prison and 3 years of deprivation of politi­ cal rights in October 2009 on charges of “inciting subversion of state power.” Appeals to: His Excellency Hu Jintao President of the People’s Republic of China Zhong Naihai Beijing 100032 People’s Republic of China Salutation: Your...

Endangered Scholars Worldwide

Endangered Scholars Worldwide Social Research wasfounded by a group ofscholars known as the University in Exile, refugeesfrom Nazi Europe whofound a home at the New School In each issue we publish the names and details ofscholars, researchers, and students who have been threatened or imprisoned, along with ways to offer them support. We see this effort as consistent not only with our own history as ajournal but with the need to call attention to the increasing and often brutal attempts to silence our colleagues around the world. Ifyou are aware of a scholar or student whose case you believe we should investigate, please contact us at socres@newschool.edu. SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS: NEW AND CONTINUING CASES BAHRAIN Prison sentences have been handed to j a l i l a a l -s a l m a n and m a h d i ‘i s s a m a h d i a b u d h e e b , both board members of the Bahrain Teachers’ Association, arrested on charges of “inciting hatred against the regime” and “calling to overthrow and change the regime by force” following the group’s call for a teacher strike in March 2011. They have been sentenced to three and ten years, respectively. Amnesty International has expressed serious concerns about Mahdi’s health and fears that he may die in prison. During a hearing in December 2011, Mahdi showed clear signs of having been beaten while in detention. Previously featured scholars from Bahrain who remain in prison include d r . a b d u i -j a l i i a l -s i n g a c e , a professor of engineering at Information current, to the best of our knowledge, as of March 7, 2012. Additional information and more current information about many of these cases may be avail­ able on our website at . social research Vol. 79 : No. 1 : Spring 2012 v the University of Bahrain, sentenced to life imprisonment on June 22, 2011, on charges of training and financing a terrorist organization, and reportedly tortured during his pre-trial detention; and r u l a a l s a f f e r , an assistant professor at the College of Health Sciences and the head of the Bahrain Nursing Society, sentenced on September 29, 2011, to 15 years in prison. The threats to scholars in Bahrain extend beyond the individual cases reported here. According to a report from Scholars at Risk, in the year since pro-democracy protests began in February 2011, at least 100 faculty and staff have been dismissed from the University of Bahrain for participating in the protests, and over 500 students have been suspended or expelled. Appeals to: His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa Office of His Majesty the King P.O. Box 555 Rifa’a Palace Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 176 64 587 Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa Ministry ofJustice and Islamic Affairs P.O. Box 450 Al-Manama Bahrain Fax: +973 175 31 284 CHINA Scholars featured in previous issues wno remain m prison m cm na include writer and editor t a s h i r a b t e n (pen name t e ’u r a n g ), sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on June 2, 2011, for his critical political writings; l i u x i a o b o , a human rights activist and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, held in an undisclosed location in Beijing since his arrest in December 2008 for “inciting subversion of state power”; and g u o q . u a n , a former literature professor at Nanjing Normal University, sentenced to 10 years in prison and 3 years of deprivation of politiDr . Fatima Al-Balushi Minister of Human Rights and Social Development, Acting Minister of Health Ministry of Human Rights and Development Manama Kingdom of Bahrain vi social research cal rights in October 2009 on charges of “inciting subversion of state power.” Appeals to: His Excellency HuJintao President ofthe People’s Republic of China Zhong Naihai Beijing 100032 People’s Republic of China Salutation: Your Excellency Mr. Wang Shengjun President, Supreme People’s Court No. 27 Dongjiaominxiang Dongcheng District Beijing...

Endangered Scholars Worldwide

Endangered Scholars Worldwide In each issue of Social Research we publish the names and details ofscholars, researchers, and students who have been threatened or imprisoned, along with ways to offer them support. Social Research wasfounded by a group ofscholars known as “The University in Exile,” refugeesfrom Nazi Europe whofound a home at The New School. We see this effort as consistent not only with our own history as a journal but with the need to call attention to the increasing and often brutal attempts to silence our colleagues around the world. Ifyou are aware ofa scholar or student whose case you believe we should investigate, please contact us at socres@newschool.edu. SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS: NEW AND CONTINUING CASES BAHRAIN JA LILA AL-SALMAN and M A H D I ‘iSSA M AH DI ABU D H EEB , both board members of the Bahrain Teachers Association, were arrested on charges of “inciting hatred against the regime” and “calling to overthrow and change the regime by force” following the group’s call for a teacher strike in March 2011. According to reports from Amnesty International, al-Salman was held in solitary confinement after her arrest and subject to about a week of beatings. Their trial, which began before a military court in June 2011, resumed on September 25, 2011. d r . a b d u l -j a u l a l -s i n g a c e , a previously featured professor of engineering at the University of Bahrain, began a hunger strike on September 2, 2011, along with several other prisoners to protest their imprisonment and the frequency of arbitrary detentions and unfair Information current, to the best of our knowledge, as of September 19, 2011. Additional information and more current information about many of these cases may be available on our website at social research Vol. 78 : No. 3 : Summer 2011 v trials in Bahrain. Al-Singace suffers from various ailments that heighten the seriousness of the risk to his health that a hunger strike poses. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 22, 2011, on charges of training and financing a terrorist organization. A previously featured scholar from Bahrain who remains detained without charge is d r . m a s a u d j a h r o m i , chairman of the department of telecommunications engineering, arrested without explanation on April 14, 2011. Appeals to: His Majesty Shaikh Hamad bin Issa A1 Khalifa King of Bahrain Office of His Majesty the King P. 0. Box 555 Rifa’a Palace, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: + 973 1766 8884 His Excellency Dr Majid bin Ali Al-Naimi Minister of Education Ministry of Education Building A1 Istiklal Street P.O. Box 43 Isa Town Central, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 1768 7866 CHINA Writer and editor t a s h i r a b t e n (pen name Te’urang) was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on June 2, 2011, for his critical political writings. He was arrested on April 6, 2010, and detained without charge until the trial, which took place behind closed doors. He is coeditor of a banned Tibetan-language magazine and author of a book and several articles critical of the Chinese government. Scholars featured in previous issues who remain in prison in China include l i u x i a o b o , a human rights activist and 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate held in an undisclosed location in Beijing since his arrest in December 2008 for “inciting subversion of state power”; GUO q u a n , a former literature professor at Nanjing Normal University, sentenced to His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ali A1 Khalifa Ministry ofJustice and Islamic Affairs Diplomatic Area P.O. Box 450 Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Fax: +973 1753 6343 Facebook group in support of Dr. Masaud Jahromi: vi social research 10 years in prison and three years of deprivation of political rights in October 2009 on charges of “inciting subversion of state power”; and z h e n g y i c h u n , professor of English at Liaoning University, arrested in the winter of 2004 and charged with “suspicion of inciting subversion of state power.” Appeals...

Role-Playing in the Classroom

Faculty at Bahrain Teachers’ College were concerned that their students lacked the ability to succeed in educational contexts designed to promote deep, or active, student-centered, learning. Deep learning is an educational approach that involves critical analysis, the linking of ideas and concepts, creative problem solving, and application. The researcher introduced role-playing to encourage more active learning among the students and to assess gender differences in their reactions to a method that requires a great deal of open-mindedness and risk-taking. Results indicated a high satisfaction rate and few gender differences in reactions towards role-playing, with uniquely interesting implications for both educational institutions and gender studies.