South Wales Schools Research Articles

Managing mandated educational change

This paper explores teachers' perspectives on the management of mandated educational change in order to understand how it may be managed more effectively. A case study of teachers' responses to the introduction of a quality teaching initiative in two New South Wales schools found that while some teachers described the strong negative impact of this externally initiated approach, others had taken charge of the required change and worked creatively with it. This suggests that it is possible for mandated change to be managed in positive ways, and an alternative approach is explored. Implications for governments, schools and teachers are discussed.

A fizzy environment: Availability and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among school students

ObjectiveReducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption has been targeted in obesity prevention strategies internationally. This study examined associations between SSB availability at school and in the home, and consumption among Australian school students. MethodSecondary analysis of the 2010 New South Wales Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (n=8058) was conducted. Logistic regression analyses tested the impact of SSB availability at school and in the home on consumption category (low, ≤1 cup/week; moderate, 2–4 cups/week; high, ≥5 cups/week). ResultsStudents in years K–10 (ages 4–16years) who usually purchased sugar-sweetened soft drinks or sports drinks from their school canteen were almost three times as likely to be high consumers (AOR 2.90; 95%CI 2.26, 3.73). Students in years 6–10 (ages 9–16years) were almost five times as likely to be high consumers if soft drinks were usually available in their home (AOR 4.63; 95%CI 3.48, 6.17), and almost ten times as likely to be high consumers if soft drinks were usually consumed with meals at home (AOR 9.83; 95%CI 6.06, 15.96). ConclusionLimiting the availability of SSBs in the home and school environments is a prudent response to address high SSB consumption among school students, albeit only part of the solution for obesity prevention.

The Nature Study Idea in New South Wales: The Role of Charles Tucker Musson (1856–1928)

Charles Tucker Musson was a highly respected teacher at Hawkesbury Agricultural College from 1891 to 1919 and a prolific contributor of articles to scientific and other journals in New South Wales. In addition, he became a strong advocate of Nature Study, a subject widely discussed as it was introduced to schools throughout the English-speaking world in the early twentieth century but since fallen into obscurity within historical research. Musson's understandings of ecology and adaptation promoted a holistic study of nature. For him any action that affected the natural environment had wider implications that needed to be understood. He came to believe that environmental understanding required more than factual scientific investigation and thus embraced the additional appeal to emotional attachment and aesthetic appreciation that Nature Study endorsed. A study of his life and writing thus provides insight into the particular ideology of Nature Study as it was introduced into New South Wales schools and its wider connection with conservationist and preservationist thought.

Research with Indigenous Children and Young People in Schools: Ethical and Methodological Considerations

The involvement of young Indigenous people in research is a key emphasis in current approaches to both sociology of childhood and Indigenous research. This article discusses how the two research methodologies, both of which emphasise participation rights, intersect in research focusing on the participation and perspectives of Indigenous children and young people in education. The article examines ethical requirements of Indigenous and childhood research and institutional ethics procedures, along with methodological considerations, potential constraints and opportunities in undertaking research that aims to facilitate children and young people's participation. Drawing on empirical data it discusses how these processes have shaped participative research studying the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students learning Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in New South Wales schools.

Enterovirus infection, β-cell apoptosis and type 1 diabetes

Sandhya Nair, Ammira Akil and Maria E Craig Virology Research Laboratories, POWH and UNSW Research Laboratories, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Science, University of New South Wales School of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney Tel: +61 2 9382 9242, Email: z3267450@student.unsw.edu.au Tel: +61 2 9382 9096, Email: ammira.akil@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au Tel: +61 2 9845 3907, Email: m.craig@unsw.edu.au

Green and amber foods: The nutritional content of food and beverages registered for sale in New South Wales school canteens with Healthy Kids Association

AbstractAim: The aim of this study was to describe key nutritional characteristics of food and beverage products registered with the product registration scheme of Healthy Kids Association (formerly the New South Wales School Canteen Association).Methods: The nutritional characteristics of Healthy Kids Association's registered products as of October 2009 were examined. Nutrient content data were obtained from product nutrition information panels, for each product within popular product subcategories. The level of key nutrients (including saturated fat, sugar, calcium and fibre) was identified and analysed in relation to the nutrient criteria threshold levels for green and amber food categories. The distribution of nutrients in relation to the food category thresholds was examined.Results: For most product subcategories, the nutrient content of products clustered just below the nutrient criteria thresholds for total energy, saturated fat, sodium and sugar. The nutrient content for the positive nutrients calcium and fibre frequently clustered just above the threshold. In addition, small package sizes were found to be common among food classified as amber.Conclusion: This study illustrates a method for analysing and describing the range and nutrient profile of products registered with a product registration or nutrition signposting scheme. The distribution of key nutrients around criteria thresholds suggests that products are formulated with reference to the nutrient thresholds of the product registration scheme. However, nutrient thresholds may also be achieved through manufacturing smaller portion sizes. The potential of nutrient thresholds as levers to influence the nutritional profile of foods needs further research and industry dialogue.

John Cade

John Cade

Education, Ethics and Religion: A Case Study

While many nations have abandoned religious proselytising within public schools, within Australia instruction in the doctrine of particular religious faiths is enshrined in laws dating from the late nineteenth century and remains for the majority of children attending primary schools a weekly part of their educational experience. However, recent years have seen a number of initiatives that have called into question the historically privileged hegemonic dominance enjoyed by religious instruction. This article analyses one such challenge – the controversy generated by the introduction of a secular-based ethics education course in New South Wales primary schools. Employing a Gramscian view of hegemony as an organising principle, the article aims to illustrate how ideological and political support for and against the ethics course is emblematic of hegemonic conflict centring upon the historical, ideological and political status of what is called Special Religious Education within New South Wales schools.

Changes in active travel of school children from 2004 to 2010 in New South Wales, Australia

Purpose To describe changes in mode of commuting to school among Australia students between 2004 and 2010 and in relation to body mass index (BMI) and cardio respiratory fitness. Methods Representative cross-sectional survey of school children in grades 6, 8 and 10 in 2004 (n = 2750) and 2010 (n = 4273). Information on how many days students use active and passive travel modes to and from school and measured BMI and cardio-respiratory fitness test were collected as part of the New South Wales (NSW) Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Surveys (SPANS). Results Active travel to school remained stable between 2004 and 2010, although there was a small increase in minutes spent on active travel. There was no association between active travel and body mass index. In 2010 there was a significant association between frequent car use and low cardio-respiratory fitness (adjusted OR = 1.7, CI 1.3-2.1). Conclusion It is a positive finding that the generational decline in active travel may have levelled out. Student inactivity associated with regular car use is plausibly related to lower cardio-respiratory fitness, but active commuting may not be of sufficient energy expenditure to impact upon BMI.

Success Stories from an Indigenous Immersion Primary Teaching Experience in New South Wales Schools

A federal report released by the Department of Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA, 2009), entitled Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage: The Challenge for Australia, highlighted the inequality that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students based on a restricted access to resources, issues of isolation, staff and student retention, and cultural differences and challenges. In New South Wales (NSW), the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) in 2003/2004 undertook their own review of Aboriginal education in NSW Government schools that revealed significant concerns about the outcomes being achieved by Aboriginal students in NSW DET schools, confirming the more recent FaHCSIA (2009) findings. In 2006 the NSW DET implemented the Enhanced Teacher Training Scholarship Program (ETTSP) to empower 20 final-year education students to successfully engage with Indigenous students in schools and their wider community during their internship period. Using themes, this article explores the experiences of 10 University of New England scholarship holders at the end of their final year of teacher training and immersion/internship experience in 2010. The article puts forward useful recommendations for both teacher universities and students intending to teach in schools with high Indigenous student populations.

In a child presenting with features consistent with a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, what clinical features or laboratory findings (at presentation) predict a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?

In a child presenting with features consistent with a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, what clinical features or laboratory findings (at presentation) predict a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?jpc_1807 442..445 Damien McKay, Louisa Adams, Genevieve Ostring and Davinder Singh-Grewal Department of Rheumatology, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Department of Immunology, Allergy, Infectious Diseases, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, The John Hunter Chidren’s Hospital, Newcastle and The University of New South Wales School of Women’s and Children’s Health, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The outdoor classroom: School camping as education in NSW 1890–1960s

IntroductionOutdoor education is now a well-established subject area in New South Wales schools and is popular at primary and secondary school levels in both public and corporate schools. Neill (2001) noted that, "a reasonable hypothesis is that most Australian students would at some point during their schooling participate in at least one substantial camping or outdoor education program" (p. 2). At the Higher School Certificate level the subject even forms an elective part of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) Stage 6 Syllabus (NSW Board of Studies, 2009). Furthermore, many Australian universities offer specific units of study related to outdoor education as part of physical education teacher education programs. Beyond specialist physical education teacher preparation a wide range of students from fields such as health education and arts enrol in outdoor education programs. There is also a significant market for outdoor education courses of study for fee paying study abroad students. These outdoor education units of study offer international students the opportunity of combining studies with the exploration of the unique Australian landscape. At some universities such as La Trobe University and Wollongong University, outdoor education is a designated area of scholarship, with associated students from undergraduate level to PhD level. Even in primary schools, where there is concern by educational researchers and practitioners with the sparse amount of time offered in physical education within generalist primary pre-service programs, (see for example, Light & Georgakis, 2007), some programs, such as that at the University of Melbourne, feature a strong outdoor education component.Outdoor education has a significant presence in schools and teacher preparation programs and there is a body of research published on different aspects of the subject area, in journals such as the Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, but there is little research that has specifically focused on its educational history. This is surprising when one considers the situation in the associated areas of the history of school sport (Collins et al., 1990; Sherington 1983) and physical education (see for example, Kirk, 1998) where histories of school sport and physical education have been used to historically locate a range of research (see for example, Light & Kirk, 2000, 2001). In addition to these areas there is a distinct field of research in the history of sport that boasts a large and significant body of literature on sport across the globe with a range of international journals in the area such as the respected journals, International Journal of the History of Sport and the Journal of Sports History. While these journals cover a range of areas of research in the history of sport and associated activities they are silent on the history of outdoor education. Perhaps one reason may be that scholars do not see outdoor education as being sport or connected to it in any way. Others such as Brookes (2002) noted that the lack of attention to outdoor education as a district area of curriculum is due to the perception that:From a curriculum studies perspective, outdoor education appears as a confusing tangle of influences and associations, which range, at least vestigially, from evangelical Christianity through military training to communitarianism. Moreover, the Australian outdoor-education literature may fail to convince anyone that there is much of curriculum significance in the mix. Considering some criticisms that have been made of some outdoor education, silence in curriculum studies on the subject of outdoor education might be seen as appropriate or tactful. (pp. 21- 22)The literature that focuses specifically on the history of Australian outdoor education is limited to a few articles (Brookes, 2002; Lugg & Martin 2001; Neill, 2001; Neill & Gray, 2001). The perception in other articles is that outdoor education in Australia is a post-World War II phenomenon established at around the time of the arrival of Outward Bound in Australia in 1956 (Gass, 1998; Herbert, 1998). …

Do More Boys Than Girls Have Reading Problems?

There is controversy within the research literature concerning the relative prevalence of reading problems in boys and girls. The authors report findings from very large and very representative samples of Australian students. Data from the New South Wales Basic Skills Test (BST) for reading, administered annually to third and fifth grade students in New South Wales schools, were analyzed for 1997 to 2006. Poor readers were defined as students who scored in the lowest BST bands, Bands 1 and 2. Average boy/girl ratios for third-grade students were 1.66:1 (Band 1) and 1.44:1 (combined Bands 1 and 2) and for fifth grade students were 2.26:1 (Band 1) and 1.99:1 (combined Bands 1 and 2). The findings of this study confirm earlier research that more boys than girls experience reading problems, but these differences in incidence may be more modest than previous research has suggested.

Sedentariness, Small-Screen Recreation, and Fitness in Youth

There are concerns that sedentariness among young people has increased and that this may be detrimental to their health. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between sedentary activities, including small-screen recreation (SSR: watching TV/DVDs/videos, recreational computer use) and cardiorespiratory endurance (CRE) in children aged 11-15 years. A cross-sectional representative population survey was taken of New South Wales (Australia) school students in Grades 6, 8, and 10 (N=2750) in 2004. Sedentary activities and SSR were measured by a self-report questionnaire. CRE was determined by the 20-meter multi-stage shuttle run test. The optimal cut point for time spent on SSR was determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Time spent in sedentary activities was inversely associated with CRE among Grade 8 students (p=0.01) and Grade 10 girls (p=0.03). CRE was lower among Grade 8 students (p<0.001) and Grade 10 girls (p<0.001) who spent >or=2 hours/day on SSR compared with students who spent <2 hours/day. The 2-hour/day cut point for SSR had high sensitivity (boys: 84%, [95% CI=79%, 87%]; girls: 79% [95% CI=74%, 84%]) and low specificity (boys: 28% [95% CI=24%, 32%]; girls: 42% [95% CI=38%, 46%]). Cardiorespiratory endurance did not differ consistently across quintiles of sedentariness and SSR among boys; however, among girls there was a consistent inverse association. If confirmed in prospective studies, these findings have important implications for risk of chronic disease.

PROGRAMME PLANNING IN GEOGRAPHY, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE IN NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOLS. Edited by D. S. Biddle and David Shortle

New Zealand Journal of GeographyVolume 48, Issue 1 p. 29-29 PROGRAMME PLANNING IN GEOGRAPHY, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE IN NEW SOUTH WALES SCHOOLS. Edited by D. S. Biddle and David Shortle First published: May 1970 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0028-8292.1970.tb00079.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume48, Issue1May 1970Pages 29-29 RelatedInformation

Overweight and obesity among children with developmental disabilities

Background The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with developmental disabilities attending a metropolitan Diagnosis and Assessment Service.Method A retrospective chart review was carried out for 98 children (67 male) aged 2–18 years. Data on age, sex, weight, height, and severity of intellectual disability or global developmental delay were collected from medical records. Body mass index (BMI, weight/height2) was calculated, and overweight and obesity defined using standard international criteria.Results Data indicated that 24% of the children were overweight and a further 15% were obese (i.e., a total of 40% either overweight or obese), which is significantly higher than the prevalence rate for Australian school children in the New South Wales Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) 2004, which found that 17% were overweight (p = .05) and 6% were obese (p = .0003) (i.e., 23% either overweight or obese, p = .0001).Conclusions The prevalence of overweight and obesity is higher among children with developmental disabilities than in the general population. Community‐based studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm this finding. The results also highlight the need to develop health care strategies for the prevention, early identification and management of excess weight gain for this group.

Changes in Physical Activity Participation From 1985 to 2004 in a Statewide Survey of Australian Adolescents

To examine changes in physical activity during a 19-year period between 2 representative cohorts of adolescents from New South Wales, Australia. Repeat cross-sectional study. Randomly selected secondary schools from New South Wales, the most populous state in Australia. One thousand fifty-five adolescents surveyed in May through October 1985 (with the Australian Health and Fitness Survey) and 1226 adolescents surveyed in March through April 2004 (with the New South Wales Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey). Participants were aged 12 to 15 years. The proportion meeting current guidelines for physical activity (60 min/d of moderate to vigorous physical activity) and time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity assessed by self-reported participation in physical activity using the same questionnaire at both time points. All of the age and sex groups reported increases in both the prevalence of physical activity (mean increase range, 11.7%-20.0%) and in the minutes per week spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (median increase range, 135-175 minutes). These findings remained the same after additional adjustment for age, socioeconomic status, and cultural background. Physical activity participation has considerably increased during the past 19 years among adolescents in the state of New South Wales, Australia. These findings provide important information about trends in compliance with physical activity recommendations and in time spent in physical activity. They could help to explain what aspects may need to be promoted to maximize the role of physical activity in reducing the high and increasing rates of child and adolescent obesity.

Tobacco smoking among secondary school students in NSW

In 2005, the New South Wales School Students Health Behaviours Survey asked students aged 12–17 years a range of questions about smoking prevention, behaviour, addiction and influences. This article describes results for selected questions. Further details on the survey methods, questions asked and complete results for smoking and other health behaviours can be obtained from the New South Wales School Students Health Behaviours Tobacco smoking among secondary school students in NSW

Venture Capital Financial Contracting and the Valuation of High Technology Firms. Edited by JOSEPH A. McCAHERY and LUC RENNEBOOG

EconomicaVolume 74, Issue 293 p. 181-183 Venture Capital Financial Contracting and the Valuation of High Technology Firms. Edited by JOSEPH A. McCAHERY and LUC RENNEBOOG DOUGLAS CUMMING, DOUGLAS CUMMING University of New South Wales School of Banking and FinanceSearch for more papers by this author DOUGLAS CUMMING, DOUGLAS CUMMING University of New South Wales School of Banking and FinanceSearch for more papers by this author First published: 12 January 2007 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0335.2006.00464.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Volume74, Issue293February 2007Pages 181-183 RelatedInformation

Methods of the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS)

The NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS 2004) (N = 5407) was a representative population survey, conducted February-May 2004, among New South Wales (Australia) school students aged 4 y-16 y. Physical activity, fitness, fundamental movement skill proficiency and food habits are all related to overweight and obesity and were a focus of this study. The last population-based survey in NSW was conducted in 1997 and use of the same measurement instruments (with the exception of food habits) allowed examination of secular trends. Overweight and obese children are at risk for a number of serious, long-term health problems, and a sub-sample (n = 500) of urban dwelling Year 10 students (mean age 15.4 years) gave a fasting blood sample which was analysed for the presence of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome. This paper describes the methods of the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey 2004 (SPANS 2004).