Title: Children and the future of the Pacific Islands : improved childhood health and education as a basis for sustainable development

Abstract: The importance of the link between environmental degradation and poverty as the main obstacle to sustainable development for all peoples of the world is becoming increasingly clear. It is argued here that the best strategy for ensuring that development initiatives are successful in the long-term is appropriate childhood education, and that the provision of a “healthy” and environmentally-conscious upbringing for our children is one of the most important social and environmental challenges of our times. Without responsible, knowledgeable, unselfish and healthy future leaders, the prospects for Pacific societies to function on a sustainable basis, let alone develop, will be dim indeed. Paradoxically, without environmentally and culturally sustainable development, there is little hope for our children and our children’s children.

Title: Helping extension students to read history as initiation into a discourse community

Abstract: Many students have difficulty in comprehending academic text, especially in the first two years of tertiary study. This paper identifies the reading skills a student would need to fulfil the expectations of lecturers in the USP’s foundation extension course, Introduction to Pacific History. Reasons for difficulties students face in understanding passages in the course Reader are suggested and recommendations are made about how course writers, tutors and teachers, in history and in other disciplines, could assist students to overcome these difficulties. Such assistance with reading history research articles, for example, is viewed as part of the process of initiating students into the discourse community of the academic discipline. As such it is seen as the responsibility of the subject lecturer and tutor. Nevertheless, it is recognised that English teachers still have an important role to play if they are familiar with the genre of the discipline and understand its communicative purpose.

Title: Developing understanding in physics through better questions

Abstract: The main focus of the paper is to stress the importance of asking questions that call for application and analysis, and to show how such questions can be used to promote pupils’ understanding in physics. In addition, such questions, by requiring students to clarify their lines of reasoning, also develop their ability to communicate their thinking verbally. Our ultimate aim in all this should be to convey to pupils the beauty of theories, experiments and problems in physics, to make the subject enjoyable and exciting to them, and thereby encourage more students to take up physics at secondary and tertiary levels. For this to happen, we must create structures that encourage professional dialogue and interaction among secondary teachers, university, physicists, curriculum advisers and teacher educators.

Title: Changing responsibilities in parenting the Pacific child

Abstract: The responsibilities in parenting the Pacific child have changed. These have occurred as much as a result of social changes, as they are due to current physical changes. This paper is a personal perspective, addressing the varied responsibilities of parenting and discussing the direction and speed of change, and how these may be modified to conserve the identity of Pacific Islanders and to strengthen their societies.

Title: A school/community library "book flood" experiment in Western Samoa

Abstract: Wagner and Bishop report on a study of the positive effects on students’ reading skills of the introduction and maintenance of a school/community library in Western Samoa. It had a marked positive influence upon the ESL reading comprehension skills of its pupils when tested over an 18-month period. This study adds more evidence to support the assertion that flooding a school with interesting books, no matter what the language, markedly improves pupils’ language skills.

Title: Marine science curricullum project draft : text readability study

Abstract: A news and views article by Hurrell and Moore looks at readability of marine science curriculum materials. They describe a study, the purpose of which was to assess the readability of the draft Marine Science curriculum materials, and to provide a measure of the sustainability of this material for teachers and students in Tongan high schools.

Title: Unmasking the myth : English, the school subject, book review

Abstract: Goodson, Ivor and Medway, Peter, (Eds.) (1990) Bringing English to Order: The History and Politics of a School Subject, The Falmer Press, East Sussex. Nathalie O’Carroll favourably reviews this text which explores the myths surrounding English as a school subject.