title: Reviews of teacher education in New Zealand 1950–1998: Continuity, contexts and change

authors: Alcorn, Noeline

abstract: After a period of 40 years of relative political and professional consensus, teacher education in New Zealand since 1990 has undergone considerable change. This has taken place in a policy environment where the rhetoric of choice and accountability has been dominant and suspicion of professionals and academics widespread. This paper examines a series of major reports on teacher education in each decade since 1950, from the Consultative Committee chaired by Arnold Campbell in 1951 to the Green Paper of 1997, tracking both the professional expectations and the social contexts. It focuses in particular on the changing concepts of professionalism and accountability and argues that a new order needs to be built that incorporates wider perspectives but does not silence the professionals.

text: Reviews of teacher education in New Zealand 1950–1998: Continuity, contexts and change After a period of 40 years of relative political and professional consensus, teacher education in New Zealand since 1990 has undergone considerable change. This has taken place in a policy environment where the rhetoric of choice and accountability has been dominant and suspicion of professionals and academics widespread. This paper examines a series of major reports on teacher education in each decade since 1950, from the Consultative Committee chaired by Arnold Campbell in 1951 to the Green Paper of 1997, tracking both the professional expectations and the social contexts. It focuses in particular on the changing concepts of professionalism and accountability and argues that a new order needs to be built that incorporates wider perspectives but does not silence the professionals.

year: 2015

title: Retaining the authentic self in the workplace: Authenticity and work engagement in the mass-service industries

authors: Sharp, Lisa

subjects: Authenticity

abstract: Striving to uphold consistency in service, an authentic approach to customers is usually considered detrimental. Focussing on customer-service workers within the mass-service industry, such as fast-food and supermarket workers, this research explores the relationship between employee authenticity and work engagement. One hundred and forty employees from a range of customer service roles were surveyed regarding their sense of authenticity at work, surface and deep acting, self-efficacy, personal accomplishment, and experience of work engagement. Overall results suggest that authenticity and personal accomplishment are independently and positively related to work engagement, and recommend that workers strive to maintain a sense of authenticity with customers, and be encouraged to feel a sense of accomplishment in their work. Further recommendations, for training and job design to promote authenticity and build a sense of accomplishment in customer service workers are discussed, as is the potential, protective application of surface acting.

text: Retaining the authentic self in the workplace: Authenticity and work engagement in the mass-service industries Striving to uphold consistency in service, an authentic approach to customers is usually considered detrimental. Focussing on customer-service workers within the mass-service industry, such as fast-food and supermarket workers, this research explores the relationship between employee authenticity and work engagement. One hundred and forty employees from a range of customer service roles were surveyed regarding their sense of authenticity at work, surface and deep acting, self-efficacy, personal accomplishment, and experience of work engagement. Overall results suggest that authenticity and personal accomplishment are independently and positively related to work engagement, and recommend that workers strive to maintain a sense of authenticity with customers, and be encouraged to feel a sense of accomplishment in their work. Further recommendations, for training and job design to promote authenticity and build a sense of accomplishment in customer service workers are discussed, as is the potential, protective application of surface acting.

year: 2015

title: Child poverty and mental health: A literature review (Commissioned for New Zealand Psychological Society and Child Poverty Action Group)

authors: Gibson, Kerry

abstract: Large numbers of children in New Zealand suffer from mental health problems, and large numbers of children suffer from poverty and hardship. This literature review provides information on the relationship between poverty experienced during childhood and the impact that poverty may have on the mental health of a child or young person, or later in their adulthood. It was found that:
• There is an accepted relationship between poverty experienced in childhood and a greater likelihood of mental health problems through the life span.
• Child poverty and its associated problems such as poor nutrition, inadequate housing, increased likelihood of adverse events and living in poor neighbourhoods put children at higher risk of having mental health problems.
• The evidence strongly suggests that the incidence of mental health conditions among children and adolescents can be reduced by addressing severe and persistent poverty, particularly during the early years of a child’s life.
• Intervention to address poverty and the effects of poverty on children is likely to prevent the perpetuation of inter-generational cycles of poverty and poor mental health.
• The prevalence of child poverty and mental health issues is likely to be higher for Māori and Pasifika than for other children and young people.
• While many Māori and Pasifika children are subject to inequities in material and socio-economic circumstances as well as institutional racism, they also experience the benefits of a rich cultural life and sense of belonging that is seldom accounted for in research reports that focus on deprivation.
The evidence strongly suggests that the incidence of mental health problems throughout the lifespan could be reduced through addressing the causes of child poverty and associated factors. Any mental health strategy for children should sit alongside a comprehensive programme to alleviate poverty.
Strategies aimed at addressing child poverty in Māori and Pasifika communities are more likely to be effective if these are well-resourced at an early stage and developed in a genuine partnership with local communities.

text: Child poverty and mental health: A literature review (Commissioned for New Zealand Psychological Society and Child Poverty Action Group) Large numbers of children in New Zealand suffer from mental health problems, and large numbers of children suffer from poverty and hardship. This literature review provides information on the relationship between poverty experienced during childhood and the impact that poverty may have on the mental health of a child or young person, or later in their adulthood. It was found that:
• There is an accepted relationship between poverty experienced in childhood and a greater likelihood of mental health problems through the life span.
• Child poverty and its associated problems such as poor nutrition, inadequate housing, increased likelihood of adverse events and living in poor neighbourhoods put children at higher risk of having mental health problems.
• The evidence strongly suggests that the incidence of mental health conditions among children and adolescents can be reduced by addressing severe and persistent poverty, particularly during the early years of a child’s life.
• Intervention to address poverty and the effects of poverty on children is likely to prevent the perpetuation of inter-generational cycles of poverty and poor mental health.
• The prevalence of child poverty and mental health issues is likely to be higher for Māori and Pasifika than for other children and young people.
• While many Māori and Pasifika children are subject to inequities in material and socio-economic circumstances as well as institutional racism, they also experience the benefits of a rich cultural life and sense of belonging that is seldom accounted for in research reports that focus on deprivation.
The evidence strongly suggests that the incidence of mental health problems throughout the lifespan could be reduced through addressing the causes of child poverty and associated factors. Any mental health strategy for children should sit alongside a comprehensive programme to alleviate poverty.
Strategies aimed at addressing child poverty in Māori and Pasifika communities are more likely to be effective if these are well-resourced at an early stage and developed in a genuine partnership with local communities.

year: 2017