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Item Open Access Socio-economically challenged learners: two South African case studies(University of the Free State, 2010) Moloi, Connie; Kamper, GerritEnglish: This article reports the results of research conducted in two successful secondary schools situated in a poor rural area in the Ehlanzeni region, Mpumalanga province. The research forms part of the International Successful School Principals Project (ISSPP) which originated in 2001 among a group of experienced education leadership and management researchers. Notwithstanding a comprehensive body of research data on the qualities of good principalship and successful schools, there was a need to focus more directly on how to create and sustain a supportive teaching and learning environment for socio-economically challenged learners.Item Open Access Twixt the workshop and the classroom: transgressing or progressing?(University of the Free State, 2010) Free, Loretta; Olivier, TillaEnglish: It is commonly conceded that promoting quality teaching is vital for improving education. To this effect, the South African Dept of Education presents training workshops to in-service teachers. The workshops are experienced as highly relevant, supportive, a very popular means of training, and they are generally well attended. Yet, teaching successes in the Eastern Cape province remain bleak. The aim of this investigation has consequently been to ascertain why there is such a chasm between the enthusiasm displayed by teachers during these workshops and their subsequent classroom practices, which should translate into more success in the classroom.Item Open Access Prevalence and prevention of interpersonal violence in urban secondary schools: an ecosystemic perspective(University of the Free State, 2010) Bender, Gerda; Emslie, AnnemarieEnglish: This article aims to describe the prevalence and nature of learner violence in urban secondary schools and what school staff members, learners and parents perceive as the major contributing factors to either promoting or preventing interpersonal adolescent violence. Adolescents’ behaviour and development are to a large extent influenced by the type of relationship they have with school staff members, their parents and peer group. This article provides an overview of the empirical study and a discussion of the main research findings that should assist schools and families with collaboratively identifying and addressing the social and ecological factors that either promote or prevent aggressive or violent adolescent learner behaviour.Item Open Access Group supervision: an appropriate way to guide postgraduate students?(University of the Free State, 2010) McFarlane, JohannEnglish: This article explores the potential of group supervision as a way of dealing with the growing number of students engaged in postgraduate studies. It refers to constructivist and cooperative learning theories which are applicable in this form of supervision, analyses the required changes in the supervisor’s role, and discusses key success factors such as strong relationships, the important role of the affective domain, and effective communication. While the findings refer to the benefits of group supervision, the article also discusses the problems associated with this method.Item Open Access The impact of educational attainment on household poverty in South Africa(University of the Free State, 2010) Botha, FerdiEnglish: This article investigates the relationship between the educational attainment of the household head and household poverty in South Africa. The results indicate a clear negative relationship between education and poverty. Households in which the head has a low level of education are more likely to be poor compared to a household where the head has a higher level of education. Literacy of the household head is also inversely related to household poverty. Rural and black households are the most vulnerable, with distinct differences between the province of residence. Despite large resource allocation towards education, educational outcomes have not improved. This raises questions concerning the lack of association between resource allocation and educational outcomes.Item Open Access First-time versus repeat visitors: the Volksblad Arts Festival(University of the Free State, 2010) Kruger, Martinette; Saayman, Melville; Strydom, AlbertEnglish: This article focuses on the differences and/or similarities between first-time and repeat visitors at the Volksblad Arts Festival as an alternate approach to market segmentation. The research was conducted by means of a visitor survey, during which 397 questionnaires were administered. Two-way frequency tables and chi-square tests were used to compare first-time and repeat visitors based on socio-demographics, behavioural characteristics, overall satisfaction with the festival and the type of shows/productions attended. The results indicate differences that could affect the sustainability and future of the festival. These differences should be considered as determinants when the festival programme is designed and marketed.Item Open Access ‘A story of a magnificent savage’: interrogating alterity in Joseph Conrad’s Karain: a memory(University of the Free State, 2010) Sewlall, HarryEnglish: On 7 February 1897, Conrad wrote to Edward Garnett: “I am thinking of a short story. Something like the [sic] Lagoon but with less description. A Malay thing. It will be easy and may bring a few pence” (Karl & Davies 198 : 338). Despite some early criticism of its lush exotic evocations of the Malayan jungle, Karain: a memory occupies an important place in Conrad’s short fiction. In the twenty-first century, the story’s appeal lies in its anatomy of alterity, or otherness. This article seeks to explore the religious, cultural and gender dimensions of the story, which give it a postcolonial resonance. The story functions as a catalyst for the deconstruction of stereotypes and affirms the view that despite inherent differences, humankind shares basic goals and dreams.Item Open Access Lesson study in continuing professional teacher develop-ment: a South African case study(University of the Free State, 2010) Coe, Karen; Carl, Arend; Frick, LiezelEnglish: The implementation of successful continuing professional teacher development (CPTD) programmes has been a challenge in South Africa since the introduction of Curriculum 2005. Lesson study, a CPTD model introduced in Japan and not previously investigated in South Africa, has shown success in bridging the gap between policy at the national level and teaching at the classroom level. A qualitative research study conducted in a rural primary school in the Western Cape province sought to determine the value that a group of teachers would place on the process of lesson study as a model for their own learning and instructional improvement. The findings highlight several areas where lesson study as a dynamic model can be considered an effective CPTD programme within the South African context.Item Open Access Pro-poor tourism routes: the Open Africa experience(University of the Free State, 2010) Viljoen, Johannes; Viljoen, Francois; Struwig, JaréEnglish: Tourism development in South Africa has been inconsistent and has failed to fulfil the promises of pro-poor development. Tourism routes have been touted as a promising means of supporting pro-poor tourism. However, in practice, established tourism route models benefit well-resourced establishments and do little to effectively include disadvantaged communities. This article explores the role of tourism routes as a pro-poor tool by outlining the practical problems of both supporting established routes and developing new ones. The Open Africa tourism route development methodology, its limitations, problems and pitfalls are scrutinised by focusing on two Open Africa routes.Item Open Access The lure of political friendship: aspects of Aristotle’s "philia politike" in the search for a civic "vinculum"(University of the Free State, 2010) Faure, MurrayEnglish: This article explores the idea of political friendship and, in particular, Aristotle’s notion of philia politike. The former is usually frowned upon in the public domain and the latter is often misunderstood in scholarly circles. The article is confined to an explication of philia politike and its viability for the liberal state, given the paradox that such a state cannot retain its liberal character neither with nor without an account of the good life and moral virtue. The article attempts to ascertain whether political philosophy can conceive of a civic vinculum or citizen bond without recourse to bonds such as family, ethnicity, race, nation, the Volk, religion, or a shared origin of humanity.