Language: English

ISSN: 0010-700X

Language: English

ISSN: 0010-700X

Language: English

ISSN: 0010-700X

Language: English

ISSN: 0010-700X

Language: English

ISSN: 0010-700X

Abstract/Notes: Purpose It is well-known that Beatrice Ensor, who founded the New Education Fellowship (NEF) in 1921, was a Theosophist and that from 1915 the Theosophical Fraternity in Education she established laid the foundations for the NEF. However, little research has been performed on the Fraternity itself. The travels of Theosophists, texts, money and ideas between Auckland, India and London from the late nineteenth century offer insights into “New Education” networking in the British Commonwealth more broadly. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on archival documents from the Adyar Library and Research Centre, International Theosophical Society (TS) headquarters, Chennai, India; the archive at the headquarters of the New Zealand Section of the TS, Epsom, Auckland; the NEF files at the archive of the London Institute of Education; papers past digital newspaper archive. Findings New Zealand’s first affiliated NEF group was set up by the principal of the Vasanta Gardens Theosophical School, Epsom, in 1933. She was also involved in the New Zealand Section of the Theosophical Fraternity, which held conferences from 1917 to 1927. New Zealand’s Fraternity and Theosophical Education Trust had close links with their counterparts in England and India. The setting up of New Zealand’s first NEF group was enabled by networks created between Theosophists in New Zealand, India and England from the late nineteenth century. Originality/value The contribution of Theosophists to the new education movement has received little attention internationally. Theosophical educational theory and Theosophists’ contributions to New Zealand Education have not previously been studied. Combining transnational historiography with critical geography, this case study of networks between New Zealand, Adyar (India) and London lays groundwork for a wider “spatial history” of Theosophy and new education.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1108/HER-10-2015-0024

ISSN: 0819-8691

Language: English

ISSN: 1071-6246

Abstract/Notes: Early Childhood and Care Education (ECCE) has attracted global focus as governments of members of United Nations (UN) strive to meet target 4.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to ensure that all girls and boys have equal access to quality care and preprimary education by 2030. ECCE specialists and stakeholders in Nigeria are involved in various ways, including the organization of workshops for caregivers and teachers to meet the target. In this paper, we present the perceptions of trainees on their learning experiences in a 3-day workshop organized for caregivers/teachers, focusing on child-centered approaches/methodologies in early years. Using a descriptive survey design, all the trainees rated the extent they learnt the methodologies in a Likert-questionnaire. The results suggested that the trainees’ perceptions on the learning of all the methodologies were positive and were neither influenced by their teaching experiences nor their age. Furthermore, their positive perceptions were highest for the following approaches/methodologies: Using circle time; Developing children’s physical domain; Making children learn through play; and Developing children’s cognitive domain. Moreover, their perceptions were lowest for the following: Developing practical ideas for including communities/parents in the classroom; Principles of Montessori approach; Preparing assessment report in early years. Based on the result of this study, we concluded that the workshop enhanced the competence and confidence of the trainees to render care and teach in their schools and made recommendations for sustaining the gains.

Language: English

ISSN: 2782-7666

Abstract/Notes: One goal of Erdkinder schools is for students and teachers to provide academic assistance to their peers, particularly to less-knowledgeable ones. However, traditional educational evaluations do not provide a means to investigate the exchange of academic help. This study piloted the use of social network analysis to describe academic assistance relationships within a Montessori secondary school. Using a network survey, social network data concerning the exchange of academic help were collected from 23 students and 8 teachers. The results show that while students provide help to both fellow students and teachers, teachers are the main source of assistance for students. In some subjects, a few students and teachers neither provided nor received assistance, indicating another area for improvement. The results of a multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure (multiple regression-QAP) show that for most subjects, their willingness to help others was not significantly influenced by their own personal level of knowledge. Thus, more-knowledgeable individuals do not provide more assistance to less-knowledgeable peers. To adhere to Erdkinder principles, this school should encourage more-knowledgeable students to recognize their responsibility to help others and to actually help those who need support. This pilot yielded valuable information, and social network analysis warrants further study within holistic education.

Language: English

DOI: 10.17161/jomr.v4i1.6639

ISSN: 2378-3923

Abstract/Notes: The purpose of this article was to announce the existence of 35 unpublished booklets on Montessorian music education that were conceived by Maria Montessori and authored by her music consultant, Anna Maria Maccheroni, at the beginning of this century. These booklets considerably extend the brief portions devoted to music in Montessori's publications. The joint effort of these two women resulted in a comprehensive program that is distinctive by reason of unique aspects that include (1) collaboration, (2) structure, (3) prepared environments, (4) auto-education, (5) control of error, (6) isolation of the aural sense, and (7) scope. Representative examples of distinctive features and a cursory description of the booklets and their contents are presented.

Language: English

DOI: 10.2307/3345174

ISSN: 0022-4294