Preparing the Boys for War Compulsion or Coercion? Physical Education and Training, 1919-1939
Post 1919 saw an emerging organisation of national resources as anticipation of a potential second major war became more widespread. One prime resource was the youth of the nation – and much was achieved through massive investment in physical activity. This paper demonstrates how – through the mechanisms of sport, physical education and outdoor activities – such changing perceptions initiated major developments in schools from curricula to the establishment of school medical services. Evidence is collated from academic research, personal testimonies and records of schools. In the past the widespread view was that fascist and communist states coerced their young men, whilst UK developments were purely voluntary. This paper seeks to challenge that, demonstrating that whilst UK changes might not have been overly directed by law, the full machinery of the state was extensively and actively involved in changing attitudes, beliefs and pursuits.
Projecting the visual: British newsreels, soccer and popular culture 1918–39
Between the wars soccer was the leading national sport in Britain. But far more watched the brief depictions of ‘celluloid’ soccer on the newsreels in the cinema than ever watched football on the pitch. Newsreels were a central cultural feature, yet their broader social, historical and ideological significance has been overlooked by both sports and media historians. This study draws on an extensive body of surviving newsreel material. It begins by exploring the complex nature of the inter-war cinema audiences, their responses to sporting newsreels and the cultural competencies they brought to their watching. Examination of newsreel content reveals the changing nature and highly varied coverage of professional and amateur soccer over the period, including significant attention devoted to women's soccer even after its banning from English Football Association grounds in 1921. The day to day practices of newsreel soccer coverage provide fascinating insights into the British sporting values and identities, contained, encouraged or prevented by its representations, codes and conventions. Soccer newsreels produced by the leading companies, while largely conservative in tone, were also highly ideologically charged. Through the ways in which they addressed notions of class, gender, politics, region and identity they had a major cultural impact on broader British society.
Efficiently establishing concepts of inferential statistics and hypothesis decision making through contextually controlled equivalence classes.
Computerized lessons that reflect stimulus equivalence principles were used to teach college students concepts related to inferential statistics and hypothesis decision making. Lesson 1 taught participants concepts related to inferential statistics, and Lesson 2 taught them to base hypothesis decisions on a scientific hypothesis and the direction of an effect. Lesson 3 taught the conditional influence of inferential statistics over decisions regarding the scientific and null hypotheses. Participants entered the study with low scores on the targeted skills and left the study demonstrating a high level of accuracy on these skills, which involved mastering more relations than were taught formally. This study illustrates the efficiency of equivalence-based instruction in establishing academic skills in sophisticated learners.