Annual Reports

This year Network 25 offered a Research Ethics Workshop at the Emerging
Researchers’ Pre‐conference.

This year saw the largest number of papers submitted to the network to date.
Sessions this year were around the following themes:

• Children’s Rights in Pre‐School, Early Childhood and Out of School Contexts
• Beyond Rhetoric: Making Children’s Participation ‘Real’ in the theory and
• Practice of Educational Research
• Inclusive Pedagogies and Children’s Rights
• Contextual Studies
• Participation and Self‐Expression
• Children’s Rights in the Classroom
• Problematising Concepts and Categories
• Citizenship: Views, Acts and Contestations
• Children’s Rights, Wellbeing and Protection
• Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion in Urban Contexts (joint symposium with Networks 5, 23, 25)

Two posters were submitted this year.

Fifteen people attended the Network Meeting and discussion centred around an
evaluation of this year’s conference, preparations for next year including
proposals for joint symposia with other networks. We also discussed a number
of options for taking forward our commitment to publication, as it is our
intention to make this a regular aspect of the network’s work.

Solveig Hagglund has decided to step down as Network Co‐Convenor – having
taken on the role of Link Convenor in 2006 and then Co‐Convenor in 2010.
Gratitude for her outstanding support over the years was expressed. Her
successor as Co‐Convenor is Ann Quennerstedt, who was welcomed to her new
role.

Minutes 

Network 25 Business Meeting September 16th 2011

Minutes: JI’A

1. Information from ECER Convenors’ Meeting

2. Experiences and reflections on this year’s conference

A number of people present thought that Network 25 was a very welcoming network with a positive ethos. It was noted that the number of papers submitted to the network is increasing. It was felt that the quality of presentations this year was generally excellent.

Concern was expressed that the network tended to draw contributions from Nordic / English speaking countries in particular and the question was raised as to how we might encourage more contributions from other contexts too.

The title of the network was discussed – and whether the restriction to educational spaces might discourage contributions that focused on other than formal educational spaces – such as child rearing etc.  Children’s Rights and Education was one suggestion to be considered.

The fact that all papers were given in the same building this year was seen as very positive – as this enabled network hopping.

It was felt that some of the symposia had too many papers.

Some people missed having hand outs from all the presentations – but in subsequent discussion the pros and cons of this were identified.

Thanks were expressed to all those who took a lead role in organising events: in particular, Guadalupe’s and Vicki’s contributions in organising a joint symposium and workshop.

3.    Next Year: Emerging Researchers’ Conference

After discussion it was decided that we would offer the theme: methodological issues around research with children.  Ann offered to lead on this.

4.    Next Year: Main Conference

One session would address the theme: Freedom, education, and development for all.  This would explore issues of freedom through stories.  Ann, Louise and Penny offered to co-ordinate this.

A joint symposium with Network 7 focussing on Roma education was suggested and Guadalupe offered to take this forward.

Other possible joint sessions with Networks 14 and 13 were also discussed.

5.    Publications

The themed edition of Children’s rights for the journal Education Inquiry – which consisted in seven papers from members of network 25 has just been published, and is the first collective output from our network.

There is the possibility of a special edition with International Journal of Education 3-13 and the following people expressed interest in this:
Jonathon, Carol (editor), Penny, Sophia, Katarzyna and Jena.  John will send list of names.

Fiona mentioned the possibility of approaching British Journal of Special Education

Louise will approach Global Studies of Childhood to see about the possibility of a special edition on children’s rights.

6.    New Co-Convenor

Solveig has decided to step down as Co-convenor this year and has proposed that Ann takes her place.  This was endorsed by those present.  

Thanks for all Solveig’s support for the network as Link Convenor and latterly as Co-Convenor were expressed.