Browsing by Author "Shuker, Mary Jane"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemChildren and television : a case study of "You and me" : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masterate in Education at Massey University(Massey University, 1995) Shuker, Mary JaneThis thesis is in the area of children and television. Television viewing is an important but frequently overlooked aspect of pre-school children's socialisation. Contemporary research emphasises the relationship between children's cognitive development and their understanding of TV. This study argues that television viewing is an active cognitive transaction between the individual child, the programme, and the viewing environment. This case study research examined twelve pre-school children's responses, and those of their parents, to the New Zealand educational programme You And Me, screened on TV3 during 1992-93. Qualitative methodologies were utilized, in the broad tradition of family ethnography. The main aspects considered are attention to and comprehension of the programme; gender role socialisation; and language acquisition. It is argued that the role of parents is central to children's television viewing, especially through regulation and co-viewing.
- ItemThe historical evolution and contemporary status of Montessori schooling in New Zealand, as an example of the adaptation of an alternative educational ideal to a particular national context : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2004) Shuker, Mary JaneThere have been two distinct phases of the Montessori method of education in New Zealand. The first began in 1912 and continued into the 1950s. The second phase, starting in 1975, has resulted in over one hundred Montessori early childhood centres being established throughout the country. In this thesis I examined the historical evolution and contemporary status of Montessori schooling in New Zealand, as an adaptation of an alternative educational ideal to a particular national context. To situate this study, the history of the Montessori movement was investigated, taking into consideration the particular character and personality of its founder, Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952). It is argued that the apparent contradictions of Montessori, who claimed to be both a scientific educator and a missionary, help explain the endurance of her method. The thesis further maintains that Montessori became a global educator whose philosophy and pedagogy transcends national boundaries. The middle section of this thesis examines the Montessori movement in New Zealand during the first phase and the second phase, highlighting the key role that individuals played in spreading Montessori's ideas. The major aim was to examine how Montessori education changes and adapts in different cultures and during different time frames. The thesis concentrates on New Zealand as a culturally specific example of a global phenomenon. The final section of the thesis is a case study of a Montessori early childhood centre examining the influence of Government policy and how the development of the centre supports the ongoing implementation of Montessori's ideas. The perceptions of Montessori teachers, former parents and students regarding the nature and value of Montessori education are also considered. Finally, observations carried out as part of the case study are analysed to further demonstrate the ways in which the original ideas of Montessori have been reworked to suit a different historical and societal context. It is concluded that Montessori is a global educator whose philosophy and pedagogy transcends national boundaries. Nonetheless, the integration of Montessori education within any country, including New Zealand, does result in a culturally specific Montessori education.