Search

A growing body of empirical research on teacher victimization indicates that it is widespread and yields negative consequences. However, limited research has investigated the relationship between teacher victimization and turnover. In this study, using longitudinal data from approximately 1,300 teachers in a metropolitan area in Texas, USA, we find that many different types of victimization -- theft, physical assault, verbal abuse, nonphysical contact aggression, and in-person bullying -- with varying levels of prevalence and frequency as well as multiple victimizations are significantly associated with teachers' attrition through transfer and/or career exit. Moreover, about half of leavers in our sample reported school administrators' indifference and ineffective intervention as an important reason for their career exit.

Several empirical studies have found that violence against teachers is a highly prevalent phenomenon in schools across the United States and has detrimental negative effects on victimized teachers. However, no empirical research has been conducted to explore the moderating effect of procedural justice on the relationship between victimization and physical/emotional distress. The present research, using a sample of victimized teachers via physical assault and theft/vandalism in a metropolitan region in Texas, investigates whether victimized teachers' perception of procedural justice can play a significant role in moderating the negative impacts of violence against teachers on victimized teachers' physical and emotional wellbeing. The results indicate that victimization via theft/vandalism and physical assault is closely related to victimized teachers' emotional and physical distress. The findings show that the level of procedural justice schools demonstrate when handling teacher victimization incidents is associated with beneficial effects of reducing physical and emotional harm among victimized teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Community of Inquiry Framework posits teaching, social and cognitive presence interact to create the learning experience in online environments (Garrison, Anderson & Archer, 2001). To date, considerable research has been conducted which employs the framework with promising results (Akyol et al., 2009). However, significant work is needed to understand the interactions of the three presences and the impact of specific indicators on learning outcomes. This study uses a mixed methods approach to explore student perceptions of the impact of the indicators of Teaching Presence on their success in online courses. Analysis revealed that level may be a significant factor in determining which of the 13 indicators are considered most critical to success. Suggestions for application of results are included. (Contains 5 tables.)

Though extant research has contributed substantially to our understanding of teacher victimization, no attempt has been made to investigate whether there are distinctive patterns of victimization trajectories among teachers and trajectory subgroups are different on their job satisfaction, connectedness to school, and emotional distress. To address this limitation, the present research, using a longitudinal panel sample of middle and high school teachers in a metropolitan area in Texas, investigates the existence of distinctive patterns of teacher victimization trajectories and the relationship between those trajectories and their adverse effects. The findings demonstrate that a substantial proportion of teachers are continuously victimized and teachers who experience persistent victimization (mid/high stable victimized groups) are at elevated risk of disconnectedness to school, job dissatisfaction, and emotional distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a vector‐borne viral disease that causes lesions in livestock, premises, county and state quarantines, and important economic losses. We investigated vector–habitat characteristics for vectors associated with VS in regions of recurrent disease within the western United States (US) that consistently lead to the environment where vector, host, and pathogen populations intersect to enable pathogen transmission. We analyzed the habitats of previously identified insect vectors, including black flies (BFs) (Simulium vittatum complex), biting midges (BMs) (Culicoides variipennis complex, which includes Culicoides sonorensis), and sand flies (SFs) (Lutzomyia shannoni) in six regions of interest (ROIs) containing hotspots of VS ranging from Texas (TX) to Wyoming. This analysis broadened the understanding of (1) how regions of reoccurring VS differ from the broader western US, (2) how geographically separated regions and hotspots are similar across time, and (3) how vector–environment habitat a priori knowledge relates to observed hotspots. Analysis of watershed factors (livestock densities, land‐cover proportions, stream and lake densities, and irrigation methods) indicated a complex system separating areas with high, recurring VS from the broader western US. Although no single characteristic separated the six ROIs from other areas, we found two distinct emerging groups (northern ROI and TX). Hotspots, estimated from monthly VS concentrations, evolved northward throughout the year and most hotspots were closer to flowing water and agricultural land than the broader ROI. All ROIs contained environmental conditions suitable for multiple vectors at some point in the year, but BFs had the highest suitability scores, whereas BM scores were lower and varied annually with higher suitability in summer. SFs had the lowest suitability score in all ROIs, consistent with their low likelihood of being vectors. BM habitat patches were often orders of magnitude smaller than BF patches, and hotspot patches reinforce the likelihood that BF may be the most critical vector in northern ROI, whereas both BM and BF have similar likelihood in southern ROI. Given limited existing vector data, this analysis provides an alternate pathway for using habitat information to associate likely vectors responsible for transmission. Results could support early warning and mitigation efforts to reduce the incidence of VS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infected a flock of broiler chickens in Gonzales County, Texas in February 2004. Disease surveillance standards were established to assess the potential for spread of this virus from the index flock. The disease is caused by an enveloped type A influenza virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae.

Stigma is a negative attribute of real estate acquired by environmental contamination and reflected in its value (Elliot-Jones, 1996). Using a model of neighborhood turnover with external economies, we show that both temporary stigma and long-term stigma are possible equilibrium outcomes after the discovery and cleanup of a hazardous waste site. The existence and duration of stigma are examined using hedonic price techniques with data from housing sales prices in Dallas County, Texas. We find that results depend critically on distance from the hazardous waste site. Neighborhood turnover due to changes in the level of poverty also appears likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]