In the last years the job as a teacher has become more and more stressful as many studies about burnout prove. One reason for this might be that teachers are put under pressure by various factors, for example the pressure to answer their own expectations, the parents, who get involved more and more into the school and the classroom, the feeling to be as good as other colleagues, the ongoing changes in the syllabus and structural changes that expect more and more from teachers, social expectations or status and many more aspects. The school is a social system and teachers are very important parts of this system, but unfortunately there is little attention paid to this fact. Many studies that try to analyze the system “school” mainly focus on the students and little on the teachers.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Role conflict and the teacher
2.1. The role conflict – A definition
2.2. Role conflicts between parents and teachers
3. Solutions and strategies
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Objective and Research Focus
This paper examines the multifaceted nature of role conflicts experienced by teachers, with a specific focus on the complex, often stressful interactions between educators and parents. It aims to identify the root causes of these professional challenges and propose practical strategies to mitigate them for a more secure classroom environment.
- Theoretical definitions of inter-role and intra-role conflicts
- Impact of social status on expectations in the teacher-parent relationship
- The influence of educational responsibility and class hierarchy on professional interactions
- Practical approaches to conflict management and pedagogical communication
Excerpt from the Book
2.2. Role conflicts between parents and teachers
Wilson has suggested that all roles that require a high dedication for other people are susceptible to inner conflicts and insecurities. So teachers are definitely one of them. Beneath all other duties, teachers have to make sure, that the communication between the parents, students and them is fine. This can happen by letters or notes or also at a parent conference day. But there are more factors than that why teachers may not fulfil parent’s expectations concerning their role. This chapter deals with reasons for this and tries to explain both side’s reactions.
Parents play a big role in school and they have different expectations on the school and the teachers. Nowadays parents are involved more and more in the classroom and their view on teachers has changed a lot in comparison to 60 years ago. It became common to question teacher’s methods, to be more accurate they are often criticized. If teachers are asked about parents they show a general mistrust due to parent’s expectations. On the other hand the interaction between parents and teachers is described as “to get on well together”.
But why is this the case? Going deeper into the topic, interesting aspects are revealed, for example the parent’s social status and the thereby accompanied different expectations of what school can accomplish. Parents, who belong to the upper middle-class, expect their children to have success in school. The teacher is seen in the role of a surveyor, a source of information and an evaluator. These parents seem to support the school system, but expect the teacher to enable their children to achieve a good education for their later career, which is the reason why these parents often send their children to a secondary school, also against the teacher’s recommendation. Unlike parents that come from the working class, who mostly send their children to lower secondary schools and tend to accept the teacher’s advice.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter highlights the increasing professional stress faced by teachers and establishes the necessity of analyzing role conflicts, particularly those involving parents.
2. Role conflict and the teacher: This chapter defines the theoretical framework of role conflict and explores the specific dynamics and tensions that arise between teachers and parents.
2.1. The role conflict – A definition: This section clarifies the academic terminology surrounding role conflict, distinguishing between inter-role and intra-role conflicts.
2.2. Role conflicts between parents and teachers: This section investigates how different social backgrounds and expectations influence the communication and relationship between parents and educators.
3. Solutions and strategies: This chapter provides practical recommendations and coping mechanisms for teachers to navigate and resolve conflicts in the school environment.
4. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the complexity of the teacher's role and emphasizes the importance of professional awareness and cooperation to handle conflicts effectively.
5. Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources and literature consulted for the paper.
Keywords
Teacher role, role conflict, parent-teacher relationship, professional stress, classroom management, education, inter-role conflict, intra-role conflict, social status, conflict resolution, pedagogy, school system, teacher identity, educational expectations, communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this paper?
The paper focuses on the professional and psychological challenges faced by teachers, specifically analyzing the nature of role conflicts that arise within the school system.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
Key themes include the definition of role stress, the impact of parent expectations on teachers, social class differences in education, and strategies for maintaining professional integrity.
What is the central research aim?
The aim is to help both novice and experienced teachers understand the roots of their role conflicts so they can better manage interactions with parents and improve their professional security.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The author uses a literature-based theoretical analysis, drawing upon sociological studies and educational theories to examine the teacher's role.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the definition of role conflict, the specific causes of tension between teachers and parents, and potential strategies such as documentation and boundary setting to handle these situations.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Relevant keywords include role conflict, teacher identity, parent-teacher relations, and conflict management.
How does social status affect the teacher-parent relationship?
The text suggests that parents from the upper middle-class are often more assertive in their expectations and interventions, which can conflict with the teacher’s assessment, whereas working-class parents tend to be less involved or more accepting of teacher advice.
What strategy does the author suggest for dealing with dissatisfied parents?
The author recommends documenting student behavior and progress throughout the year to remain objective and suggests that professional organizations can provide support if legal or formal conflicts arise.
Why do teachers sometimes struggle with their role?
Teachers face pressure from multiple directions—students, parents, and the school system—leading to "incompatibility of expectations" which makes it difficult to define their specific responsibilities clearly.
- Quote paper
- Nicky Jan (Author), 2015, Teacher in a role conflict. A focus on parents, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/488850
