Teacher-Student Power Relationship in Finnish Behavior Management
Chen, Shuyan (2020)
2020
Master's Degree Programme in Teacher Education
Kasvatustieteiden ja kulttuurin tiedekunta - Faculty of Education and Culture
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2020-05-26
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202004294578
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202004294578
Tiivistelmä
The power relationship between teachers and students has been a researched area in the educational field. Few studies, however, explicitly illustrate how Finnish teachers experienced the power relationship. To fill in this gap, this study aims to provide insight into whether Finnish teachers have encountered power-related conflicts with students and how they manage the situation. By viewing the teacher-student power relationship as complex and dynamic, this study conducted interviews with five experienced teachers in Finnish primary schools.
Results show that Finnish teachers had free but strict relationship with students, and they did encounter conflicts in the power relationship with students throughout their teaching career. Some intense conflicts mostly happened in the first years of career, while some small conflicts still happened daily. To solve the conflicts, one of the main strategies is not viewing teachers and students in a hostile relationship. Teachers, as adults, are bound with students by the security needs of students, and that is how trust and respect can grow. In addition, teachers have strategies such as setting rules, using professional skills and turning to professional sectors at school for help.
The study provides educators with useful implications and suggestions on behavior management at school. Finnish experience showed how to provide sufficient autonomy for students, while in the meanwhile maintain the authority of teachers and keep learning in order.
Results show that Finnish teachers had free but strict relationship with students, and they did encounter conflicts in the power relationship with students throughout their teaching career. Some intense conflicts mostly happened in the first years of career, while some small conflicts still happened daily. To solve the conflicts, one of the main strategies is not viewing teachers and students in a hostile relationship. Teachers, as adults, are bound with students by the security needs of students, and that is how trust and respect can grow. In addition, teachers have strategies such as setting rules, using professional skills and turning to professional sectors at school for help.
The study provides educators with useful implications and suggestions on behavior management at school. Finnish experience showed how to provide sufficient autonomy for students, while in the meanwhile maintain the authority of teachers and keep learning in order.