Public School Girls Research Articles

To Mica With Love

A growing body of research exploring the lives of Black Canadian students largely focuses on achievement and disciplinary outcomes. Such scholarship centers the negative experiences of Black boys, overlooking the quotidian lives of Black Canadian girls in public schools. The lack of educational research engaging Black Canadian girls hinders scholars, educators, and communities from fully reimagining schools for liberation. Drawing from literature and personal stories, this arts-informed autoethnography investigates how I partnered with three Black Canadian girls to reconceptualize their role in research processes. The study relied on disability critical race theory (DisCrit), Black feminist notions of homeplace, and Endarkened storywork to share and analyze narratives of Black girl leadership and innovation. The study revealed how Black researchers and Black Canadian girls used the arts, storytelling, and space to reimagine research processes as homeplace. The study emphasized the need for scholars to engage in research that uphold marginalized Black girls as producers and leaders striving for social change.

Enhancement of private schools for collaboration to address gender equity gap of STEM education: Case study in Mbeya city of Tanzania

Investment in education to guarantee gender equity in most developing countries has focused on modern teaching pedagogy, teaching and learning facilities, cultural issues and the likes. However, performance in private schools do set learnable examples of which if not ignored, a nation in question may take lessons and improve gender equity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Private secondary schools may serve as on way to enrich girls' enrolment in STEM for future career opportunities by scoring qualifiable grades in STEM subjects, provided that education investment environment not only favors public schools but also be in favor of private schools. In the study conducted in Mbeya city of Tanzania, the author investigated 58 secondary schools of which 32 were private schools. From these schools 7936 candidates sat for Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) of 2022 in Mbeya city. 2232 candidates were from private schools. The analysis indicated that more girls with a potential to enter into STEM education came from private schools, and it is about twice the number of girls from public schools regardless of more girls candidates from public schools. Chi-square testing of pass in STEM subjects between boys and girls verified that performance in private schools had no gender equity gap between boys and girls. On the other hand, boys outperformed girls in public schools. Moreover, an estimation of 2202 candidates of which 999 were girls had at least a minimum pass in basic mathematics. Private schools contributed 626 (63%) of passes in basic mathematics. Thus, appropriate collaboration with private schools might revamp not only girls’ enrolment but also clear gender equity gap in performance of STEM subjects if policy makers in education investment can do more improvement in the environment for education investment through private schools.

Middle and high school girls’ attitude to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career interest across grade levels and school types

The aim of this study is to examine Kazakh female students’ interest in STEM professions. A convenient sampling method was used to determine the participants from 10 girls’ schools in Almaty city in Kazakhstan. 522 girls from grades 7th to 11th provided answers to the “STEM Career Interest Survey” which was administered online. Collected data was analyzed to see how girls’ STEM carries interest change according to the type of school and grade level, along with locating the correlations between their interests and their end-term marks in each STEM subject. MANOVA analysis showed that girls’ career interests in different STEM subjects are changing for different school levels across types of schools. Through ANOVA analysis we showed that only girls’ math interest significantly changed across school levels. Post-hoc analyses indicated that seventh level students’ interest in math was statistically higher than eighth and ninth level students. For the school type variable, ANOVA analysis showed that only girls’ technology and engineering interests were significantly different across school types. In other words, girls in Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) were significantly more interested in technology and engineering careers than public school girls while for science and mathematics there was no difference between the two types of schools. Additionally, at the 8th and 11th school levels NIS girls have a higher interest in science while at the 10th level public school girls have higher scores. Finally, we detected significant correlations of modest amplitude between girls’ STEM were analyzed rest and their achievement in physics, math, chemistry, and biology. This study will allow supporting teachers and school administrators in their efforts to encourage girls to pursue STEM studies and careers, and we hope it will also help researchers to orient their efforts in providing them with fertile and durable solutions.

Elevated Risk of Overweight/Obesity-Related Markers and Low Muscular Fitness in Children Attending Public Schools in Chile.

In Chile, children of low socioeconomic status usually attend public schools and have few opportunities to engage in healthy behaviors. This may increase their risk of overweight/obesity and low muscular fitness. Therefore, we aimed to determine the association between the school type attended with overweight/obesity-related markers and the muscular fitness of children in Chile. We included 1410 children (6-13 years old) attending public, subsidized, or private schools. Overweight/obesity-related markers included BMI Z-scores, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Muscular fitness assessment included handgrip strength and standing long jump. The odds ratios [95% CI] of overweight/obesity, elevated waist circumference, elevated body fat, low handgrip strength, and low standing long jump were compared between school types. Compared with boys attending public schools, those attending subsidized or private schools had lower odds ratios of low handgrip strength (0.63 [0.42-0.94] and 0.44 [0.25-0.78], respectively). Girls attending subsidized schools, compared with those in public schools, had lower odds of overweight/obesity (0.63 [0.44-0.90]) and of having low handgrip strength (0.51 [0.34-0.78]). Compared with girls in public schools, those attending private schools had lower odds (vs. public schools) of overweight/obesity (0.45 [0.28-0.74]), of having elevated body fat (0.53 [0.29-0.96]), and of having low standing long jump (0.41 [0.21-0.77]). The elevated risk of overweight/obesity-related markers and lower muscular fitness in children, particularly girls, attending public schools increase their current and future disease risk. This suggests that childhood socioeconomic status plays a central role in determining disease risk. Health-promoting interventions specifically focused on children from disadvantaged contexts are required.

Correction to: Indonesia's Supreme Court Judgment on Religious Clothing: Failing Women and Girls in Public Schools?

Correction to: Indonesia's Supreme Court Judgment on Religious Clothing: Failing Women and Girls in Public Schools?

Indonesia's Supreme Court Judgment on Religious Clothing: Failing Women and Girls in Public Schools?

Abstract In May 2021, the Indonesian Supreme Court delivered a unanimous judgment that struck down a joint ministerial decree prohibiting local governments and public schools from imposing religious clothing on female students, teachers, and staff.1 The joint ministerial decree was issued following public criticisms and media coverage of the religious dress code enforced in public schools in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The Court held that such a decree conflicted with various provisions in the national legislations, including laws on regional government,2 child protection,3 law-making,4 and the national education system.5 Accordingly, the Supreme Court justices presiding over the case, Yulius, Irfan Fachruddin, and Is Sudaryono, instructed the Minister of Education and Culture, the Minister of House Affairs, and the Minister of Religious Affairs to rescind the joint decree. This comment explores and critically examines the Court's reasoning of the decision that has, consequently, legitimized local governments and public schools’ policy to enforce mandatory hijab on Muslim and non-Muslim female teachers, staff, and students at public schools across the country. It argues that the Court's ruling, in this case, is highly unreasoned and questionable, lacking in details in some respects, and failing to address the encroachment of women and girls' rights that should have been given appropriate consideration.

Classification of Sanitation Services and Students’ Sanitation Practices among Schools in Lagos, Nigeria

The paucity of information on the number of accessible sanitation facilities in secondary schools in developing countries has hindered efforts in attaining sustainable development in this area. Therefore, this study was designed to bridge that gap. The cross-sectional study utilized a 4-stage sampling technique to select 386 students from schools in Badagry, Lagos. Pre-tested questionnaire and observational checklists were used to obtain data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Respondents’ mean age was 15.8±1.5 years and 55.2% were female. On-site observation revealed that all the schools had improved sanitation facilities, while 37% of the available toilet compartments were inaccessible to the students. Majority (85%) of the facilities provided limited service, while 15% provided basic service. The student to toilet ratio for the public school girls and boys were 3191:1 and 642:1 respectively, while the private school had a ratio of 257:1 and 289:1 for girls and boys respectively. Some of the sanitation practices observed in the schools were open defecation (35.4%), toilet avoidance (21%), and prolonged urine and feacal retention (57.4%). Students from the public school were about 3 times more likely to practice open defecation (OR=2.87; CI=1.160-7.095). Also, male students were more likely to practice open defecation (OR=1.72; CI=1.125-2.615). All the schools did not meet the school sanitation standard of 1 toilet to 30 boys/girls set by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Sustainable sanitation-interventions and maintenance schemes are required to safeguard the health of the students and the community at large.

Math Self-efficacy and the Likelihood of Pursuing a STEM-Based Career: a Gender-Based Analysis

The attitudes teenagers have towards Math, as well as their knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)–based careers will affect their likelihood of pursing these careers in the future. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes that youth (girls and boys) aged 12–14 hold towards Math, their knowledge of Math, and Science requirements for future careers as well as their likelihood of choosing a STEM-based career. This research also examined the responses of girls who attended a week-long intensive Science summer camp compared with those who did not attend this camp. To do this, students’ attitudes and knowledge were explored using a gender-based analysis (GBA) in four sample groups: (1) public school boys, (2) public school girls, (3) public school girls who do well in math, and (4) a specialized sample of girls who had attended a female-only Science summer camp. Our results show that more grade 7 girls in Nova Scotian public schools feel tense doing Math problems compared with similarly aged boys, yet the average self-rating of getting good marks, learning Math quickly, and looking forward to Math were similar for girls and boys. Furthermore, girls had a better knowledge of careers that required Math and/or Science than boys. In relation to the Science camp, significantly more girls attending the Science camp indicated that they would be very likely to pursue a STEM career in the future, compared with girls, with equally good Math grades, in the non-camps group. These findings show that enabling girls to interact with female STEM professionals and to attend an all-girls Science dedicated camp significantly impacts their interest in STEM professions and is a concrete way in to break down stereotypes in male-dominated fields.

Invite Their Languages In: Community-Based Literacy Practices with Multilingual African Immigrant Girls in New York City

This three-year qualitative case study examined how an African community-based organization, Sauti Yetu’s Girl’s Empowerment and Leadership Initiative (GELI), leads, bolsters, and transforms the literacy development of African immigrant girls who are identified as English Language Learners (ELLs) and Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE) in New York City schools. In particular, the study addresses how community-based literacy practices mobilize multilingual African immigrant girls to strengthen their communities. The study drew upon critical perspectives of literacy and community-based practices to examine the approaches GELI has implemented to address the academic and social needs of African immigrant girls in public schools.

POLA PERTUMBUHAN BERDASARKAN BERAT DAN TINGGI BADAN SISWA PADA SEKOLAH NEGERI DAN SWASTA DI KOTA DENPASAR, BALI

This research aimedet al. to determine the pattern of growth in several primary schools and secondary public and private schools in Denpasar, Bali Province. Samples were determined using purposive sampling and data were collected by cross-sectional method. The pattern of growth of boys and girls at the age of 7-15 years at private schools in Denpasar shows that the average height and weight were greater than the boys and girls in public schools in Denpasar. The percentage of underweight category was higher at public school in Denpasar and the percentage of children with overweight and obese categories were higher in the private national plus school Denpasar.

Validity and Reliability of the Brazilian Version of the Weight Control Behaviors Scale

To develop and validate the weight-control behaviors (WCBs) scale and to evaluate its psychometric properties. We made use of data from a cluster-randomized trial assessing the effectiveness of the Brazilian New Moves Program. The Brazilian New Moves Program was a multicomponent intervention aimed at preventing weight-related problems among adolescent girls in public schools in São Paulo, Brazil. Healthy and unhealthy WCBs were strongly associated. A 2-factor solution was the best model to explain the correlation across items, including following constructs: (1) healthy WCB: exercising, eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking less regular soda or sweetened drinks, eating fewer sweets, and paying attention to portion sizes; and (2) unhealthy WCB: skipping meals and the presence of any other, combined unhealthy weight-control behaviors, including fasting, eating little, going on a diet, vomiting, taking diet pills, using diuretics (water pills), using laxatives, using food substitutes (powder/special drinks), and smoking more cigarettes. The WCB scale was determined to be reliable (internally consistent) and valid, with high scores positively associated with body dissatisfaction and high body mass index values. Individual reliability values were high for factors representing healthy and unhealthy WCBs. Our findings support the use of the WCB scale as a screening tool for overall weight control behaviors among female adolescents. This assessment tool should be considered in future observational and experimental prospective studies. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-6ddpb3.

Perceived barriers to achieving a healthy weight: a qualitative study using focus groups at public and private schools in Guatemala City

BackgroundOverweight prevalence among Guatemalan girls is higher in public than in private schools. Little is known about adolescent girls’ perceptions of the right ways to achieve a healthy weight. This study examines public and private school adolescent girls’ perceptions of a “healthy weight,” and barriers and facilitators to achieving it.MethodsWe conducted 4 focus groups in public and private schools in Guatemala City with girls from 13 to 15 years old. The discussion guide included open-ended questions and activities aimed at examining perceptions of “healthy weight” and barriers and motivators to achieving it within the school environment. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data analyses followed established methods of content analysis.ResultsTwenty-eight girls (private school, n = 12; public school, n = 16) of ages ranging from 13.1 to 15.9 years (median, 14, IQR, 13.6–14.9) participated in the study. Girls identified images of thin and fit women as healthy. They cited healthy eating and physical activity as ways to achieve a healthy weight. Within the school environment, barriers to maintaining a healthy weight included a lack of healthy food options and the prioritization of sports for boys over girls. In public schools, facilities were less than optimal; in private schools, girls’ access to facilities was limited. Public school girls stated that their uniforms were inappropriate for exercising.ConclusionOur findings support the need to provide more healthy food options in Guatemalan schools. In addition, physical activity for girls should be promoted and facilities made available for their use.

Anthropometric evaluation of growth variation in urban dwelling female adolescent school children

Introduction: Growth studies among children are important in health planning and policy making, as it has been observed that the interaction between environmental and genetic constitution is manifested in physical growth. The aim of this work was to investigate the variation in growth patterns of adolescent girls from different socioeconomic status attending schools (a private and public schools) in urban Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was undertaken on 320 adolescent female schoolchildren in Lagos, Nigeria. Six anthropometric measurements, such as weight, stature, sitting height, waist circumference, biacromial breadth, and biceps skinfold were taken into consideration observing ISAK protocol for measurement. Results: The results revealed that the private school girls had consistently higher values than the public school girls. Conclusion: This indicates that a consistent variation pattern in growth exists among the girls studied. Therefore there is need for adequate health monitoring during adolescence.

Skeletal frame-size variations in adolescent female Nigerian school children in Lagos

Introduction: Limited information is available about the skeletal frame size of urban-dwelling adolescent female West African children. Aim and Objective: This study assessed variations in skeletal frame-size as estimated from the truncal breadths of adolescent female Nigerian children from two different socioeconomic backgrounds in Lagos. Materials and Methods: Anthropometric measurements of biacromial, bi-iliocristal, bitrochanteric, and chest breadths were taken from 320 adolescent female school children aged 10-17 years selected from public and private schools in Lagos using a systematic random method. The socioeconomic status (SES) of the subjects was classified on the basis of attendance at either fee-paying private or non-fee-paying public schools. Results: The range of skeletal breadth measurements were as follows: Biacromial breadth 32.24 ± 2.01 cm to 34.23 ± 1.35 cm; bi-iliocristal breadth 22.46 ± 1.07 cm to 23.75 ± 1.47 cm; bitrochanteric breadth 24.47 ± 2.22 cm to 28.29 ± 2.10 cm; and chest breadth 18.43 ± 2.14 cm to 19.71 ± 0.75 cm. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean biacromial, bi-iliocristal, bitrochanteric, and chest breadths between age-matched private school girls (PRG) and public school girls (PUG). Conclusion: The observed variations in skeletal frame size among female adolescents may reflect a complex interaction between lifestyle and biological variables existing in this population, suggesting a morphologic uniqueness among the adolescent females of Lagos that calls for further systematic investigation.

Weight status and eating habits of adolescent Nigerian urban secondary school girls

Background. Obesity in adolescence is common, and eating habits are a key determinant. Eating habits in adolescence often differ substantially from those in any other phase of life. Objective. To assess the weight status and eating habits of adolescent urban secondary school girls in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods. In this school-based cross-sectional study, data were obtained on the subjects’ eating habits via a structured anonymous self-administered questionnaire, while their weights and heights were obtained by direct measurements. The body mass index (BMI), calculated as weight/height (kg/m 2 ), was used in assessing the weight status of the participants. The study sample was 2 097 adolescent urban public school girls, aged 12 - 19 years. Information was obtained on frequencies of skipping meals, reasons for skipping meals and food choices, as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. All the students at the two study schools were invited to participate. Results. The mean age of the participants (± standard deviation) was 14.8±1.9 years (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.7 - 14.9). Slightly over half (52.6%) were from families of middle socio-economic status, and 84.7% of them lived with their parents. Of the 2 097 participants, 1 009 (48.1%) admitted to skipping at least one meal a fortnight. Of the three main meals, breakfast was the most frequently skipped (46.3%) and dinner the least frequently skipped (21.5%). With regard to age, the frequency of skipping meals was 30.1%, 50.4% and 58.5% among participants aged <14 years, 14 - 16 years and ≥17 years, respectively ( p <0.001). The two leading reasons cited by participants for skipping breakfast were lack of appetite and time. Only 15.2% of the participants reported daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. Over half of the participants (60.2%) ate fast food at least once a week, with more than three-quarters of them (76.4%) consuming fast food along with soft drinks. The prevalences of both overweight (24.5% v. 13.2%) and obesity (2.5% v. 1.1%) were higher among girls who skipped meals compared with their peers who did not skip meals (odds ratio 0.4, 95% CI 0.32 - 0.50). Conclusion. Meal skipping was associated with an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescent schoolgirls.

Giving Girls a Shot: An Examination of Mandatory Vaccination Legislation

On June 8, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved Merck &amp; Co.'s vaccine Gardasil, which protects women from the human papillomavirus (HPV). Twenty‐four states began entertaining initiatives that would make the vaccine mandatory for all fifth‐ and sixth‐grade girls in public schools. However, as the vaccine gained traction in the media, the dominant issue frame put forth by Merck &amp; Co. was undermined by several competing morality concerns raised by citizens in newspaper opinion pieces. Using an analysis of selected media coverage and a logit analysis modeling the influence of competing morality, economic, and public‐health determinants on states' decision making, we investigate the ascent of issue salience surrounding the HPV vaccine, and the policy consideration process. The results from the analysis indicate that citizen‐initiated opposition increased the salience of the topic and changed the issue framing in which the mandatory vaccine legislation was being considered. State policy consideration was influenced by a mix of morality and public‐health determinants. Moreover, Merck's attempts to influence state policy failed to increase the likelihood of policy consideration.

Laicismo y liberalismo como paradigmas de interpretación de los derechos humanos. Reflexiones sobre la configuración de la libertad religiosa a la luz del debate francés sobre el velo islámico

The use of Islamic veil for girls in public schools of France has aroused animportant discussion about laicism, multiculturalism and religious freedom.This debate was under the scrutiny of the European Court of HumanRights, which issued several judgments about the problem. The requirementof neutrality, the fundamental principle of laicism, allows that theState, supposing to protect the freedom of conscience of no religious people,confines the exercise of religious freedom to the strict boundaries ofprivate life. At the same time, while requiring neutrality, the State is tryingto impose in the public arena a sort of civil religion, depriving of the rightof expression in religion matters. These two elements could be found notonly in the fathers and current thinkers of laicism, but in authors that,without this enrollment, are finally supporting the same conclusions. Theprincipal mistake that is under that is a conception of freedom derived fromthe Illustrated liberalism, an error that in the end is derived of a limitedconception of the man. The pretensions of these doctrines are impossibleto perform, because the religion cannot be relegated to the interior of manwithout to force the freedom itself. If some States continue following theseideas, will be no limits in the violation of the individual freedoms. Therefore,instead to see the religion as a “toxic” element in the social sphere,the relationship between State and religion should be marked for a positivelaicism. That implies a legitimate autonomy between them and to recognizethe positive value of religion for the individual and social life, an elementthat is so valuable to the point that is consecrated as a human right.

Atom Surprise: Using Theatre in Primary Science Education

Early exposure to science may have a lifelong effect on children’s attitudes towards science and their motivation to learn science in later life. Out-of-class environments can play a significant role in creating favourable attitudes, while contributing to conceptual learning. Educational science theatre is one form of an out-of-class environment, which has received little research attention. This study aims to describe affective and cognitive learning outcomes of watching such a play and to point to connections between theatrical elements and specific outcomes. “Atom Surprise” is a play portraying several concepts on the topic of matter. A mixed methods approach was adopted to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of children (grades 1–6) from two different school settings who watched the play. Data were gathered using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Analysis suggested that in both schools children’s knowledge on the topic of matter increased after the play with younger children gaining more conceptual knowledge than their older peers. In the public school girls showed greater gains in conceptual knowledge than boys. No significant changes in students’ general attitudes towards science were found, however, students demonstrated positive changes towards science learning. Theatrical elements that seemed to be important in children’s recollection of the play were the narrative, props and stage effects, and characters. In the children’s memory, science was intertwined with the theatrical elements. Nonetheless, children could distinguish well between scientific facts and the fictive narrative.

Thin ideal internalization in Mexican girls: A test of the sociocultural model of eating disorders

We examined the influence of thin ideal internalization on body dissatisfaction and disordered eating in Mexican girls. We sampled 137 public school girls aged 12-15 from a small city in Mexico. Participants were given Spanish versions of the sociocultural attitudes toward appearance scale, two measures of body dissatisfaction, the eating attitudes test, and the attitudinal familism scale. Thin ideal internalization mediated the relationship between thin ideal awareness and body dissatisfaction, and the relationship between thin ideal awareness and eating disorder symptoms. Attitudinal familism was negatively correlated with thin ideal internalization for girls outside of the normal weight range. Mexican girls are at risk of eating disorder symptoms, and there is support for the sociocultural model of disordered eating in this population. Hispanic family values may mark protection from thin ideal internalization in Mexican girls outside of the normal weight range.

Prevalência de cárie em adolescentes de escolas públicas e privadas na cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of cavities among adolescents in public and private schools in João Pessoa, Paraíba State, Brazil, comparing the DMFT in terms of gender and age, as well as education levels and quality among mothers in these two types of schools. The sample consisted of 3,330 adolescents between twelve and fifteen years old: 1,665 attending public schools and 1,665 attending private schools. The DMFT was evaluated by the WHO criteria (1997), using the Kappa (0.92) intra-examiner agreement for cavity diagnoses and the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis statistical analyses. The prevalence of cavities in public schools was 51.6%, compared to 9.3% in private schools. The DMFT for girls was 4.79 and 3.46 for boys in public schools (p<0.0001) and 2.11 and 1.65 (p=0.0007) in private schools. At the age of 12 years, the DMFT was 3.37 in public schools and 1.35 in private schools, while for the age of 15 it was 5.65 and 2.88 for each type of school. Among children whose mothers graduated from high school, the average DMFT was 4.21 in public schools and 1.81 in private schools. The prevalence of cavities was higher among girls in public schools, increasing with age and decreasing with higher education levels among mothers.