Browsing by Author "Norola, Meri"

A case study of three schools in Helsinki, looking at everyday life from teacher's point of view. Looking into the social processes that effect the schools at a local level and aims to add diversity to previous study of school segregation. First, how do areal affects show in everyday school life and secondly, how do schools reply to these challenges. The study is a part of Toimiva lähikoulu) -project that is led by professor Hannu Simola. Previous studies show, that school segregation and study results can be predicted according to areas socioeconomic status (Bernelius 2013). Yet there are schools that stand out from others with unexpected good learning results despite areal socioeconomic challenges. In the middle of this phenomenon are teachers that face the challenges in their work. The study is a qualitative case study about three schools in Helsinki that are located in socioeconomically challenging areas and produce good learning results. Data consists of ten teacher interviews that were collected from schools in spring 2014. Areal challenges seem to cause the schools specific challenges. These challenges were recognized and the schools aimed to fix these problems and support teachers in their work. Teachers felt that working in these schools was more challenging than in average schools in Helsinki or other parts of Finland but they also liked their work. Schools in the study had managed to produce a working and caring environment that made an effort to improve the wellbeing of teachers, students and their families. Recognition and acknowledgement of areal challenges had produced good structures and working environment. Teachers relation to the job seems to be a key factor in producing working systems in schools. At best the community could include the surrounding residential area to school community. The schools were able to produce an environment to teachers and student alike where support was received and given and good, unexpectedly good learning results were received. With these actions schools were able to reduce the negative effects of urban segregation at a local level.