engleski

Frameworking the divide: How teachers view students differently according to the program they attend

Selection of secondary school is the decision highly determined by numerous background and often subjective factors. Furthermore, there is a pre-conceived divide of secondary schools by quality in general public. Bourdieu's reproduction of the social structure based on individuals' habitus, i.e. individuals' objective past position in the social structure that is also structuring its future life path (Bourdieu, 1987), explains this process well. Situated in educational system, it can be seen as determinism at its worst. Recently in Croatia new VET curriculums were introduced for 26 qualifications. They were designed according to European Qualification Framework and experimentally introduced in 49 high schools. Alongside, new program type emerged which combined general education (gymnasiums) and VET curriculums (vocational schools) forging the concept of “vocational gymnasiums” (VG). Five VG programs were assessed in 17 high schools within external evaluation process. This research included all VG students (N=422) and teachers (N=443) and sub-sample of VET students (N=854) and teachers (N=1039). In group interviews, 68 VET and 37 VG teachers participated. Specific questions and findings focus on differences between VET and VG programs in: 1) perceived students’ educational capacity and 2) teachers’ and students’ perceptions of educational process. Although both VET and VG teachers were highly motivated for teaching experimental programs and perceive themselves as competent to do so, they perceive their students differently. VET teachers tend to perceive their students as lower achievers and asses the classroom climate lesser then VG teachers. In interviews, VG teachers express their predominant wish for the program to attract “gymnasium profile students”. Thus, teachers actively reinforce this self- fulfilling prophecy of students’ educational pathways being defined by certain type of programs.

High schools, VET-education, vocational gymnasiums, “student profile”, classroom climate

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