Tales from the Pond (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9783639130973)

This book presents an alternative interpretation of a practice that tends to attract a great deal of negative press - that of ability grouping. Often viewed as elitist and a means of reinforcing the status quo in unequal societies, the educational practice of grouping on the basis of ability has engendered distrust in egalitarian Australia for many years. This study challenges this notion through examination of a disadvantaged rural secondary school's attempt to create a learning environment that is appropriate for highly able students, while not disadvantaging mainstream students not involved in the program. The metaphor of a pond is woven through the study, representing Marsh's Big Fish Little Pond Effect, which is critiqued. Through a mixed methodological approach, the views of students in both the grouped and mainstream settings were examined to determine their levels of satisfaction with their educational experience. The study found that although the ability based setting provided a suitably nurturing environment for the able students, it was not viewed as desirable by mainstream nonmembers, suggesting that appropriate provision may require different educational responses.

Author: Margaret Plunkett
ISBN-10: 3639130979
ISBN-13: 9783639130973
Publisher: VDM Verlag
Language: English
Published: 02/27/2009
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.94lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.65d