title: Making sense of children's sexuality: Understanding sexual development and activity in education contexts.

authors: Flanagan, Paul G.

subjects: child sexuality

abstract: Most adults find that responding to sexual activity by children and between children is challenging. This is especially so for teachers in early childhood and primary education contexts. One common view is that children should not be sexual or, if they are, that there is something wrong. These concerns are strengthened by popular adult discourses of sexuality and accompanying ideas of sexual privacy. Among discourses of child development sit ideas of childhood innocence and natural curiosity. However, assumptions of abuse arise when children's sexual curiosity extends beyond what is considered appropriate or "normal". This article examines pre-adolescent child sexual development. It scans some of the ideas and practices that shape adults' understandings in the construction of children's sexual identities. These ideas and practices also shape children's knowledges. Adult responses to children's sexual actions often portray children as abused, abusive or deviant. Using a social constructionist lens, this paper offers educators an exploration of a range of understandings and alternative thinking about sexuality in the worlds of children-yet also critiques ideas of normative behaviour and development. The reader is invited to think about how children can be encouraged to share their subjective meanings and understandings.

text: Making sense of children's sexuality: Understanding sexual development and activity in education contexts. Most adults find that responding to sexual activity by children and between children is challenging. This is especially so for teachers in early childhood and primary education contexts. One common view is that children should not be sexual or, if they are, that there is something wrong. These concerns are strengthened by popular adult discourses of sexuality and accompanying ideas of sexual privacy. Among discourses of child development sit ideas of childhood innocence and natural curiosity. However, assumptions of abuse arise when children's sexual curiosity extends beyond what is considered appropriate or "normal". This article examines pre-adolescent child sexual development. It scans some of the ideas and practices that shape adults' understandings in the construction of children's sexual identities. These ideas and practices also shape children's knowledges. Adult responses to children's sexual actions often portray children as abused, abusive or deviant. Using a social constructionist lens, this paper offers educators an exploration of a range of understandings and alternative thinking about sexuality in the worlds of children-yet also critiques ideas of normative behaviour and development. The reader is invited to think about how children can be encouraged to share their subjective meanings and understandings.

year: 2011

title: Macroscopic quantum phenomena

authors: Munro, William John

subjects: Quantum theory

abstract: This thesis consists of two parts. Although both are concerned with macroscopic quantum phenomena, I choose to present the two parts quite separately.  

Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena: Tests of Quantum Mechanics 

The correctness of quantum mechanics has been verified in numerous situations. A particularly strong test of quantum mechanics was suggested by Bell, who showed that the predictions of all classical theories, based as they are on the assumptions of local realism, contradict those of quantum mechanics. Later work by Greenberger, Horne, and Zeilinger showed that the GHZ phenomena also contradicts all classical theories. Experimental tests of Bells inequality performed to date support quantum mechanics (No experimental test of the GHZ phenomenon has yet been attempted). However, such tests have been so far restricted to microscopic systems in the sense that one particle is at a detector at a time.  
Our interest here in the first part of this thesis is in tests of quantum mechanics against local realistic theories in macroscopic or mesoscopic systems where there is a significant number of particles incident on each analyser. The states considered in the first two chapters are not simple quantum superpositions of macroscopically distinct states, but we nevertheless show how one can obtain tests of quantum mechanics in situations involving large numbers of particles. A more elementary macroscopic quantum state, and one in which the deviation from classical interpretations is striking, is the Schrodinger Cat state considered by Schrodinger in his famous "Schrodinger Cat" paradox. In Chapter Three we consider a scheme for generating such a state. 

The Quantum Brownian Motion Master Equation 

The second section of this thesis involves an examination of various aspects of the Quantum Brownian Motion Master Equation. We begin with a discussion of the recent problem occurring from the study of the quantum Brownian motion (QBM) master equation, which can occur because the QBM master equation is not of the Lindblad form. We examine two specific examples, namely the damped free particle and the two level atom. More specifically, in the case of the evolution of a free particle, we show that the equation of motion for the Wigner function (which is exactly the same as the Fokker-Planck equation for classical Brownian motion) gives unphysical results if the initial position distribution is well localised. In the case of the two level atom we show that unphysical results can also occur even in the steady state. 
The last chapter of the thesis involves using the quantum Brownian motion master equation to estimate the rate of diagonalisation of the off diagonal elements of a Fermion system. These elements contain the "quantum information" and hence knowledge of how long they exist can determine the type of model required to describe the semiconductor medium. Using a very simplistic approach we can show that there are two main time scales present and for normal parameters one of these is very small. If we neglect electron-electron scattering we can show that the the many electron system solution is simply a product of the one electron solutions.

text: Macroscopic quantum phenomena This thesis consists of two parts. Although both are concerned with macroscopic quantum phenomena, I choose to present the two parts quite separately.  

Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena: Tests of Quantum Mechanics 

The correctness of quantum mechanics has been verified in numerous situations. A particularly strong test of quantum mechanics was suggested by Bell, who showed that the predictions of all classical theories, based as they are on the assumptions of local realism, contradict those of quantum mechanics. Later work by Greenberger, Horne, and Zeilinger showed that the GHZ phenomena also contradicts all classical theories. Experimental tests of Bells inequality performed to date support quantum mechanics (No experimental test of the GHZ phenomenon has yet been attempted). However, such tests have been so far restricted to microscopic systems in the sense that one particle is at a detector at a time.  
Our interest here in the first part of this thesis is in tests of quantum mechanics against local realistic theories in macroscopic or mesoscopic systems where there is a significant number of particles incident on each analyser. The states considered in the first two chapters are not simple quantum superpositions of macroscopically distinct states, but we nevertheless show how one can obtain tests of quantum mechanics in situations involving large numbers of particles. A more elementary macroscopic quantum state, and one in which the deviation from classical interpretations is striking, is the Schrodinger Cat state considered by Schrodinger in his famous "Schrodinger Cat" paradox. In Chapter Three we consider a scheme for generating such a state. 

The Quantum Brownian Motion Master Equation 

The second section of this thesis involves an examination of various aspects of the Quantum Brownian Motion Master Equation. We begin with a discussion of the recent problem occurring from the study of the quantum Brownian motion (QBM) master equation, which can occur because the QBM master equation is not of the Lindblad form. We examine two specific examples, namely the damped free particle and the two level atom. More specifically, in the case of the evolution of a free particle, we show that the equation of motion for the Wigner function (which is exactly the same as the Fokker-Planck equation for classical Brownian motion) gives unphysical results if the initial position distribution is well localised. In the case of the two level atom we show that unphysical results can also occur even in the steady state. 
The last chapter of the thesis involves using the quantum Brownian motion master equation to estimate the rate of diagonalisation of the off diagonal elements of a Fermion system. These elements contain the "quantum information" and hence knowledge of how long they exist can determine the type of model required to describe the semiconductor medium. Using a very simplistic approach we can show that there are two main time scales present and for normal parameters one of these is very small. If we neglect electron-electron scattering we can show that the the many electron system solution is simply a product of the one electron solutions.

year: 1994

title: ‘He reka te wai o te hua pango: The darker the berry the sweeter the juice.' The experiences of Māori women in educational leadership in mainstream secondary schools.

authors: Taukamo, Trudy

subjects: New Zealand leadership

abstract: Although there has been a growing interest in Māori women in educational leadership, the research base in New Zealand is still limited. This study provides insights into the challenges and experiences of four Māori women who occupy a formal leadership position in a mainstream secondary school. It used a qualitative kaupapa Māori research framework. Data were collected using semi-structured one-on-one interview with open-ended questions. The four women were selected from Māori women who currently hold a formal leadership position at a senior management level in a mainstream secondary school and who identify as Māori. The reason for the purposive sample was the critical under-representation of Māori women in formal educational leadership roles. This study revealed three important aspects. Firstly, a person’s upbringing and background has a significant impact on the principles and values which underpin leadership. Secondly, it was evident that a support system whether personal or professional was crucial in a leadership position. Finally, the influences of opportunities and appointments to leadership were important in educational leadership. Clearly, the findings point to a need for a stronger mentoring programme and effective networking of Māori women. Tertiary studies and leadership programs can aid the career pathways for aspiring leaders. However, what is clear is the need for more research specific to the New Zealand context and Māori women.

text: ‘He reka te wai o te hua pango: The darker the berry the sweeter the juice.' The experiences of Māori women in educational leadership in mainstream secondary schools. Although there has been a growing interest in Māori women in educational leadership, the research base in New Zealand is still limited. This study provides insights into the challenges and experiences of four Māori women who occupy a formal leadership position in a mainstream secondary school. It used a qualitative kaupapa Māori research framework. Data were collected using semi-structured one-on-one interview with open-ended questions. The four women were selected from Māori women who currently hold a formal leadership position at a senior management level in a mainstream secondary school and who identify as Māori. The reason for the purposive sample was the critical under-representation of Māori women in formal educational leadership roles. This study revealed three important aspects. Firstly, a person’s upbringing and background has a significant impact on the principles and values which underpin leadership. Secondly, it was evident that a support system whether personal or professional was crucial in a leadership position. Finally, the influences of opportunities and appointments to leadership were important in educational leadership. Clearly, the findings point to a need for a stronger mentoring programme and effective networking of Māori women. Tertiary studies and leadership programs can aid the career pathways for aspiring leaders. However, what is clear is the need for more research specific to the New Zealand context and Māori women.

year: 2011