Public Schools Research Articles

The effectiveness of parental assistance-based online learning model on self-efficacy

<span lang="EN-US">The obstacles experienced during online learning are inevitable circumstances. Hence, students need to have motivational beliefs that they have the ability to thrive in online learning despite its difficulties. Applying parental-based online learning is expected to help students increase their self-efficacy. This study examines the effect of using an online learning model based on parental assistance on students’ self-efficacy with a quantitative approach. This type of research is quasi-experimental, with a pre and post-test control group design by studying seventh-grade students in several public junior high schools in Kisaran. The study found that applying an online learning model based on parental assistance improved students’ self-efficacy more than a conventional online learning model. Consequently, parental assistance will make a practical contribution to the implementation of learning, especially in the implementation of online learning in the era of the pandemic and after the COVID-19 pandemic.</span>

Parenting and other potential protective factors associated with polysubstance use among public school students in Lagos, Nigeria.

Substance use is a growing problem in Nigeria. The present study extended recent work documenting the importance of parenting as protective against substance use in Nigerian youth by testing a model linking parenting, additional protective factors and polysubstance use. Public school students (N = 1607; 56% female; M age = 14.88; SD = .44 years) living in the greater Lagos region participated in school-based data collection. Lifetime polysubstance use, defined as use of two or more substances including alcohol or illicit drugs, or misuse of over-the-counter medications, was reported by 5.2% of the sample. Structural equation modelling that accounted for adolescent age and sex on all constructs revealed good model fit. Positive parenting (support and solicitation) was significantly associated with higher perceived harmfulness of substance use, religiosity and positive relationships at school. Positive school relationships were associated with a decreased likelihood of polysubstance use. Multiple group analysis revealed no overall sex differences in the model paths. Strengthening parent-adolescent relationships may have a cascading effect on protective factors and subsequent substance use, and should be included in youth substance use prevention programmes.

Balanced clustering for student admission school zoning by parameter tuning of constrained k-means

The Indonesian government issued a regulation through the Ministry of Education and Culture, number 51 of 2018, which contains zoning rules to improve the quality of education in school educational institutions. This research aims to compare the performance of the k-means algorithm with the constrained k-means algorithm to model the zoning of each school area based on the shortest distance parameter between the school location and the domicile of prospective students. The study used data from 2248 prospective students and 22 public school locations. The results of testing the k-means algorithm in grouping showed the formation of non-circular patterns in the cluster membership with different numbers of centroid cluster members. In contrast, testing the constrained k-means algorithm showed balanced outcomes in cluster membership with a membership value of 103 for each school as the cluster center. The research findings state that the developed constrained k-means algorithm solves the problem of unbalanced data clustering and overlapping issues in the process of new student admissions. In other words, the constrained k-means algorithm can be a reference for the government in making decisions on new student admissions

Interpersonal self-efficacy, morale, and personality traits of public elementary school teachers vis-à-vis teaching performance

In the landscape of education, the role of elementary school teachers stands as a cornerstone in shaping the intellectual and emotional development of young minds. Amidst the myriad of factors influencing teaching effectiveness, the interplay between interpersonal self-efficacy, morale, personality traits, and teaching performance emerges as a critical area of inquiry. This study employed descriptive correlational research to determine the level of interpersonal self-efficacy, morale, and personality traits of public elementary school teachers vis-à-vis teaching performance in the Division of Ozamis City, School Year 2022-2023. Respondents of the study were the public school teachers from District 5 and 6 of Ozamis City Division with a total of 117 teacher respondents. Frequency Count, Percentage, Mean, Weighted Average Mean, Kruskal-Wallis Test, Dunn’s Pairwise Tests, and Spearman rho were the statistical tests. Study revealed that the majority of respondents were female teachers with a range of one to five teaching experience. The teachers demonstrated high levels of interpersonal self-efficacy and morale, indicating their confidence in guiding and inspiring their pupils, as well as their satisfaction with their interactions and contributions to the school and community. While no significant differences were found in self-efficacy, morale, and personality traits based on age, sex, and highest educational attainment. It is worth noting that personality traits had a significant but very low correlation with performance. These findings highlight the importance of cultivating positive teacher attributes and promoting a supportive environment to enhance teacher performance and ultimately improve the quality of education in the region.

100th anniversary of ‘Special School’ publication

The article presents the beginnings of the Polish pedagogical press and its development duringthe partitions and in the years after regaining independence. The establishment of theSpecial Education Section of the Polish Public School Teachers' Association was initiated by thepublication of the periodical ‘Special School’ in 1924, the editor-in-chief of which was MariaGrzegorzewska. The magazine was addressed primarily to teachers and was intended to increasetheir interest in the issues of people with disabilities and special educational needs. Thestructure of the magazine proposed by Grzegorzewska has remained basically unchanged tothis day. It assumed the publication of scientific articles and articles devoted to teaching work,as well as reports on domestic and foreign events and new publications.

Science Teaching Practices at Secondary Level: Cross Comparison of Public and Private Sector Teachers

The main purpose of the study was to learn about science education practices in both public and private schools and identify effective teaching practices in both sectors. To fulfil this purpose, a comparison between public teachers with private teachers and public students with private students was made. For this purpose, a random sample of 300 secondary school students and 80 teachers were selected to collect data. The selected teachers and students were given two rating scales as instruments to learn how to utilize teaching practices. The data were analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). To examine the gathered information, descriptive data analysis statistics and inferential statistics were used to diagnose the practices. Data analysis highlighted that male secondary school teachers in public and private schools needed to be successfully teaching science. The results led to the recommendation that all the teachers, particularly those employed by private institutions, should undergo refresher courses for effective science teaching practices training.

Dysexecutive symptomatology in everyday functioning and academic achievement in adolescents

BackgroundDuring the educational stage, academic achievement depends on various social, family, and personal factors. Among the latter, executive skills in everyday life play a significant role in dealing with the academic demands of adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study is to ascertain the effects of executive symptomatology in everyday functioning on academic achievement in adolescents.MethodThe study involved 910 students aged between 13 and 15 years (M = 14.09, SD = 0.68) from both public and private schools in the Community of Madrid. The DEX, BDEFS-CA, and BRIEF-SR questionnaires were utilised to assess executive difficulties, while grades in language, mathematics, and natural sciences were used as a measure of academic achievement.ResultsThe data revealed statistically significant differences in working memory, emotional control, materials organisation, and task completion. In relation to language and natural sciences subjects. In the case of mathematics, emotional control and task completion were significant variables.ConclusionOur results indicate that certain executive skills that are manifested in everyday life activities can contribute, albeit in a variable way, to academic achievement in the subjects studied. This aspect is relevant insofar as it allows us to develop preventive interventions based on the executive training of these everyday skills.

Are sun exposure time, dietary patterns, and vitamin D intake related to the socioeconomic status of Portuguese children?

To investigate the association among sun exposure time, vitamin D intake, dietary patterns, and socioeconomic status in Portuguese children. Participants aged 3-11 years (50.1% females) were recruited from public and private schools (n = 118) in the districts of Coimbra (n = 2980), Lisbon (n = 3066), and Porto (n = 2426). Parents reported their children's daily sun exposure time during the summer season and reported children's food consumption, including vitamin D food sources, using standardized questionnaires. Parents' education level was used as a proxy measure to the socioeconomic status (SES). The principal component factor analysis (PCA) method was used to identify dietary patterns. The eight dietary patterns identified were labeled in: "fast food", "rich in vitamin D", "sugary drinks", "vitamin D", "candies", "supplements", "rich in calcium" and "vegetables/healthy". Linear regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between sun exposure time and dietary patterns according to SES. A total of 4755 children were included. Children from high SES had significantly longer sun exposure time (p < .001) and more frequently consumed vitamin D supplements (p < .001). "Fast food" pattern showed a negative association with sun exposure time in medium and high SES (p = .014 and p < .001, respectively). Children with lower SES spend less time exposed to the sun, consume fewer dietary sources of vitamin D, and consume more foods rich in fat and sugar.

School Plant Management for Effective Teaching Delivery in Senior Secondary Schools in Rivers State

The study examined school plant management for effective teaching delivery in senior secondary schools in Rivers State. The study design was descriptive survey design while the population of the study comprised of 6,657 teacher and 302 principals in public senior secondary schools in River state. The sample consists of 823 respondents (principals and teacher) of government senior secondary schools which representing 12% of the entire population. Three research questions and three corresponding null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A self -structured questionnaire titled “School Plant management for effective teaching delivery questionnaire” with 22 items was used. The instrument was duly validated by two experts from measurement and evaluation and a reliability index of 0.84 was established. The findings of the study revealed typed of school plants in secondary schools, the respondents agreed that inadequate funding, lack of training, overcrowded class room e.t.c., are challenges of utilization school plant. Furthermore, the study revealed that the respondents agreed that all the items listed were the strategies for managing school plants. The study recommended amongst others that government and other stake holders of education should provide adequate school plants for efficiency and effectiveness in the system, stake holders of education should address the various challenges of utilizing school plants and that heads of schools, school personnel and students should be trained and be re-trained on the various strategies of managing school plants.

Examining the Predictive Capacity of School-based Assessment on Students' Mathematics Performance in Large-scale Examinations

This study underscores the importance of school-based assessment (SBA) in predicting students' mathematics performance in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana. The study was conducted using 150 mathematics teachers from public junior high schools in Ghana's Central Region, the research employed a quantitative approach, using surveys to gather data on internal examination scores, SBA practices, teaching experience, and gender. Regression analysis revealed a strong predictive relationship between internal exam scores and BECE performance (R² = 0.663, B = 0.374, SE = 0.006, t = 67.24, p &lt; .000), while ANOVA showed significant variations in SBA practices based on teaching experience (F (3, 146) = 6.99, p &lt; 0.05). However, t-tests indicated no significant gender differences in SBA practices among teachers (t (148) = 1.100, p = 0.273). These findings highlight the critical role of internal assessments and teaching experience in enhancing educational outcomes and suggest that educational policies should support effective SBA practices and professional development for teachers. Based on these findings, it is recommended to enhance formative assessment practices by focusing on continuous and comprehensive internal assessments, provide ongoing professional development for teachers to improve their skills in implementing SBA, and allocate adequate resources for mathematics education to support effective teaching and learning environments.

School Occupational Health and Safety Performance Scale: Validity and Reliability Study for Scale Development

The aim of this study is to develope a scale to evaluate the performance of occupational health and safety practices in schools. The form created for this purpose was presented to experts and the content validity rates of the items were determined in line with the feedback received.The items with a content validity ratio below .80 were excluded from the study. The 49-item trial form was applied via e-mail to 990 teachers working at primary, secondary, and high school levels in public and private schools in İstanbul, affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, and the data obtained were analyzed. With exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), a two-dimensional structure consisting of 40 items in total revealed "Occupational Health and Safety Training Practices Applied in Schools" and "Occupational Health and Safety Practices Applied in Schools, Managerial Precautions and Precautions". It was determined that the goodness of-fit indices of the model were quite high. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) also confirmed the EFA results. The obtained correlation coefficients were examined. Item-total score correlation coefficients were between r = .878 and r = .650, and a significant relationship was observed at the p &lt; .01 level. The internal consistency coefficient obtained for the entire scale was .92. There was a significant (p&lt; 0.05) difference between the items and the total score between the 27% lower and 27% upper groups. It was determined that this difference was in favor of the upper 27% group. There was high reliability in the items on the scale, and the items were distinguishable on the basis of the characteristics the scorers of the scale were looking for.

Factors Influencing on Job Satisfaction of Secondary School Teachers in Karachi Pakistan

Teachers are role models for their students and considered an asset of any nation's educational system because of their impact on students' personal and intellectual development. The objective of this research is to examine the perspectives of public secondary school teachers in district central Karachi regarding their level of job satisfaction through a simple survey technique. 120 secondary school teachers, including 50 male and 70 female teachers, were selected using simple random sampling. In terms of frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, the data were analyzed using descriptive technique. The results revealed that at the secondary level, teachers were found to be extremely motivated and satisfied for their teaching practices. However, they required a higher level of job satisfaction regarding advantages and benefits, followed by working conditions and physical facilities. The study suggested that pay and benefits, working conditions, and physical facilities should be a priority of administration and policymakers for enhancing teachers' job satisfaction, which ultimately enhances teaching /learning and quality of education.

Internet addiction among school adolescents in Jeddah-Saudi Arabia

BackgroundInternet addiction is increasing among adolescents worldwide. There is a lack of research assessing internet addiction and factors contributing to it among adolescents in Jeddah city. The current study aimed to assess the rate of internet addiction among adolescents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and the potential factors associated with it.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey, hosted by SurveyMonkey, was used to capture data on internet use from 462 adolescents aged 12–18 years between March and May 2022. Young’s Internet Addiction Scale was used to assess the degree of internet addiction as perceived by adolescents. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify possible predictors of internet addiction among adolescents in Jeddah.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 15.5 ± 1.9 years. The majority were females (75%) from public schools (63%), spent an average of six hours on the internet daily, owned smartphones (98%), accessed the internet via a smartphone (94%), and used the internet for socializing (82%). Internet addiction mean score was 39.20 ± 15.20 out of 100. More than two-thirds of the participants had mild to moderate levels of internet addiction (68%). Significant predictors contributing to internet addiction were using the internet for socialization and playing online games. The more hours spent on the internet daily, the more the internet addiction was (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsThe internet addiction rate is high among school adolescents in Jeddah. The majority of high school adolescents had mild to moderate levels of internet addiction. Interventional multidisciplinary programs are needed to mitigate the factors that influence internet addiction.

Teachers’ mental health status in new normal among public secondary schools in Jolo, Sulu

This study analyzed the mental health status of the public secondary teachers in Jolo, Sulu, Philippines. This study was a descriptive research that described the emotional well-being, support perception, stress level, anxiety level, depression, as well as resilience and coping mechanisms of the public teachers. Three public secondary schools were selected in this study. There were one hundred twenty (n=120) public school teachers who participated in the study—forty in each institution. This study adapted Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), Teachers Mental Health Check-in Survey, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and Carver Brief COPE Inventory as the research questionnaire. The teachers demonstrated positive emotional state, low levels of anxiety, stress, and depression, and high resilience, all indicative of their effective management of mental health challenges in the new normal. Specifically, they reported having the feeling of optimism, love, being supported, relaxed, and mental fortitude. They were also able to respond to the challenges they face by getting advice, seeking emotional support, self-reflection, and find comfort from their religion or spiritual beliefs. However, this study did not evidently describe the interactions between support systems and anxiety, stress, and depression levels. Hence, it is essential for further research to explore the specific types of support and coping strategies that most effectively promote these positive emotional states and resilience among teachers.

“Zero interaction”, ignoring and acts of omission in the school ecology: Peer ostracism from the perspective of involved adolescents

AbstractThis study focuses on one type of excluding and isolating behaviour, the essence of which is the breakup of social interactions with a group member, which falls within the commonly accepted definition of ostracism. Based on interviews with 29 adolescents aged 12–18 (including 15 girls and 14 boys, all of whom were students in public schools without migrant backgrounds), an analysis of the content and typology of peer ostracism in school classrooms was conducted, emphasizing the perspective of those directly involved in the ostracism, i.e., the perpetrators. Three main dimensions and behavioural aspects related to ostracism emerged from the data: “Avoidance (Zero Interaction)”, “Expulsion from Group” and “Complete Ostracism”. The results indicate that the identified forms of ostracism rarely occur in a pure form, and are most often carried out in combination with non-verbal acts of overt exclusion. Furthermore, peer ostracism in group-class communities, which is consensual and chronic in nature, may reflect a distinct variant that qualifies for independent study. The paper also discusses directions for future research and actions to improve the social classroom environment.

Mathematics Vocabulary and Problem-solving Skills of Grade 4 Pupils in Narvacan North District

This study assessed the levels of mathematics vocabulary and problem-solving skills among Grade IV learners in public elementary schools in Narvacan North District. The primary aim is to assess how well students understand and use mathematical terminology and their ability to apply this knowledge to solve mathematical problems. The research involved a sample of 366 Grade IV students, utilizing validated tests and problem-solving assessments to gather the needed data. Results indicate that moderate grasp of mathematical terms, there is notable variability and room for improvement. Furthermore, parents' educational attainment and learners' vocabulary levels are significantly related implying that higher parental education is modestly associated with better vocabulary outcomes. In terms of problem-solving skills, the findings show that learners also demonstrate moderate proficiency. Importantly, the analysis reveals that demographic factors such as age, and gender, and significantly related to problem-solving abilities, indicating that these skills are influenced more by other factors. The study concludes that enhancing instructional strategies and providing targeted support can significantly improve both vocabulary and problem-solving skills. Engaging parents in their children's education and offering additional resources can further bolster these efforts. Future research should explore other influential factors and effective interventions to support the mathematical development of Grade IV learners, thereby laying a stronger foundation for their continued academic success.

Exploring Performance Skills in the Occupation of Learning to Read

ABSTRACT Only one-third of U.S. fourth-grade public school students score at or above reading proficiency on national standardized tests. Current language-based reading instruction methods do not appear to meet many students’ needs. This study explores the role of visual perception in word recognition skills amongst typically developing first graders. It is hypothesized that visual perception is a crucial component of word recognition. This quantitative correlational study explored the relationship between visual perception and word recognition skills in first grade students participating in general education. The findings revealed that several statistically significant relationships exist between visual perceptual functions and skills recruited for word recognition. Phonological processing is strongly associated with spatial relations (r = .35) and sequential memory (r = .38). These correlations are significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed). Form constancy (r = .28) p < .05 is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed). These relationships suggest that visual perceptual skills and phonological processing are concurrently developed in these participants and that these skills are likely recruited simultaneously when engaging in occupations, such as learning to read. This study highlights the role of visual perception in early reading development. Educators may consider consulting with school-based occupational therapists to explore the potential impact of visual perception when supporting students who struggle with reading.

A Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology Assessment in Learning Resources Management and Development System

The platform for Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS) has the potential to be helpful for learning. Teachers find support and resources from the learning portal of the Department of Education. This study focused on determining the acceptance of the Learning Resources Management Development System (LRMDS) as a learning resource portal using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model among EPP/TLE/TVL teachers in the Division of Iligan City. For the sample selection based on structures and items, Soper's (2024) a-priori sample size calculator for structural modeling was utilized. This calculator calculates the minimum need to identify desired effects for a structural equation model inquiry by considering variables, effect size, and power levels. The study was based on quantitative and qualitative research designs via demographic questionnaire based on the UTAUT theory model and the perception questions. Findings indicate that the effort expectancy and social influence have positive effects on behavior intentions and facilitating conditions; behavioral intentions also have positive effects on use behavior. However, Performance expectancy is not significant. Additionally, qualitative findings suggest that teachers believe the LRMDS can greatly improve teaching effectiveness when viewed as valuable and dependable, resulting in its effective use. Teachers generally consider the content provided by LRMDS to be relevant and sufficient. However, a significant issue is that some resources, particularly in TLE (Technology and Livelihood Education), are outdated, likely due to limited access to ready-made resources and sufficient learning materials. The findings of this study also suggest that enhancing LRMDS integration, communication and outreach efforts are recommended, including a training guide matrix to raise awareness of LRMDS benefits and address misconceptions through targeted campaigns, workshops, and peer sharing. Recommendations include improving knowledge management, simplifying user interfaces, informing teachers about support conditions, and implementing the training guide matrix in public schools to highlight the advantages of the LRMDS portal.

Book Censorship in Public Schools: Examining Florida HB 1467 (2022)

Several pieces of legislation have sprung up in recent years in Florida aiming to restrict public school library books and curricular materials. Notably, this coincides with other state legislative moves to restrict what students read and learn in school with partisan purposes. Library associations have reported that nationally, removed books disproportionately contain LGBTQ and racial minority themes. One law at the heart of these restrictions, Florida HB 1467 (2022), empowers community members to challenge and remove public school books and adds bureaucratic obstacles to the access of previously allowable materials. The vague and broad language of the Florida law leads to erratic application by school districts across the state, resulting in the suppression of protected speech. This article examines a key constitutional tension: Under what circumstances does the students&amp;rsquo; right to receive information under the First Amendment outweigh school officials&amp;rsquo; authority, and, by extension, parental authority over local education under the Tenth Amendment? The U.S. Supreme Court in Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982) offers one answer, holding that political orthodoxy is an unacceptable rationale for removal, but pervasive vulgarity and educational unsuitability are acceptable. These three standards are useful, yet entangle in ways Pico is not fully suited to address. This article argues HB 1467 (2022) is unconstitutional under the political orthodoxy Pico standard, strict scrutiny analysis of content-based regulations, and the vagueness and overbreadth doctrines of the 1st Amendment.

Assessment of Inclusion in Upper Basic English Language Curriculum in Nigeria

The study assessed the current English language curriculum at the upper basic level in Taraba state with particular emphasis on the relevance of the content to the English language inclusive curriculum needs. Two towns and 7 public schools were selected for the study through purposeful sampling method. Thirteen English language teachers at the upper basic levels in the schools responded to a 22-item questionnaire titled ‘Inclusive Education Curriculum Needs Questionnaire’ (IECNQ). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while t-test statistic was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that the current curriculum falls below expectation in catering for the demands of English language inclusive curriculum needs. Teachers of English language at the upper basic level in Taraba state for instance, possess little or no knowledge about inclusive learning and what it means for a student to be language impaired. It is therefore necessary that there be a review of the English language curriculum at the upper basic level to cater for the needs of the English language inclusive curriculum. The stakeholders of the field of education in Nigeria will have to take drastic steps in enlightening the English language teachers at this level the concept of inclusive education if the goal of equal educational right to every Nigerian child will be achieved.