Konflikthantering mellan lärare och elev

Abstract

This degree project examines six teachers’ views on conflicts as well as how they work with conflicts between teachers and students. The data collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with six teachers from two different schools in the county of Västra Götaland. Since most research on conflicts in school focus on student conflicts. We found it relevant to look closer at conflicts between students and teachers. As these studies show; to be a teacher today covers a broader mission than to teach a subject (c.f Ludwallm and Stööp 010). There is thus a demand on teachers to be able to manage conflicts where they might be involved e.g. evaluation and grading students’ performances. This study is based on the following research questions: 1. What conflicts occur between teachers and students according to teachers? 2. How do teachers manage conflicts between teachers and students? 3. How do teachers work to prevent conflict between teachers and students? Four areas of conflicts were identified: how teachers feel exposed to students’ needs, misinterpretations, incorrect grading and special or wrongful treatment. The study also showed that there are some common ways through which teachers deal with conflicts such as building relationships and communication. On occasions they also passed along conflicts to the principal or staff that work with students’ health. However teachers’ views on conflicts as well as how they dealt with them varied due to the situation at hand, and individual preferences.