Original scientific paper

School as a community that fosters the process of growing up

Vesna Buljubašić-Kuzmanović ; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku Odsjek za pedagogiju

Abstract

Th e subject of the analysis in this paper, developed as part of the project Curriculum of social competencies and relationships in the school, focuses on the social dimension of learning and development of interpersonal relationships. Lifelong learning in this context implies progress, growth and better understanding, strengthening of one’s abilities and skills and development of social networks that facilitate access to information, resources and opportunities to individuals and groups. The aim of this research is to examine how schools, as caring communities that foster growing up and success, through various school activities, encourage students’ involvement and care for the development of good interpersonal relations – from the students’ perspective (N=2661), taking into account their age, gender and pedagogical measures imposed on them, from the teachers’ perspective (N=432) and from the perspective of the specialist staff (N=30). This is a way of gaining insight into the micro-pedagogical pattern of the school, i.e. into how many opportunities students have to demonstrate their skills and abilities, develop cooperation and more successful relationships, respect others, be more tolerant, resolve their conflicts in a non-violent way and feel free, successful and satisfi ed, to learn in a creative and interesting way and to apply acquired knowledge/experience to everyday life. The results show that younger students rate their own use of social skills higher than older students do, and girls rate their use of social skills higher than boys. Stimulating pedagogical measures are more often imposed onto younger students and repressive pedagogical measures onto older students. Girls receive more praise than boys, while boys, on average, receive punishment three times more often than girls. Students who have been given a warning, reprimand or have been punished show insecurity in social relationships, which requires care and prevention. School as a caring community should, through its various activities, enable students to develop all the virtues they admire, confirm those values by positive experience and lead them to success.

Keywords

students; teachers; social skills; interpersonal relations; pedagogical measures

Hrčak ID:

113460

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/113460

Publication date:

20.11.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

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