Humanitarian Paradigm Views Of Teachers And Implementation Of The Paradigm’s Continuity

Methods for investigating the views of practicing teachers

Conceptual-narrative forms were identified using the following methods: Modified version of the questionnaire Janet Wojtitz "Truth or Delusion". Purpose: to identify mythological representations, contradictions between scientific and mythological representations in relation to the four pedagogical functions (according to Kuzmina) - gnostic, communicative, constructive, organizational). The method of unfinished sentences. Respondents were asked to finish sentences in one or more words. The systematization of the endings of the phrases proposed by the respondents (in terms of their prevalence among teachers) and their differentiation in content was carried out.

Figurative-symbolic forms : The technique "Portraits of the participants in pedagogical relationships" (modified technique "Sexes and their behavioral portraits" by Rumyantseva): main subjects of the educational process identification in the teacher (as they exist in reality and what the teacher would like them to be) and distortions present in them. The semantic differential of C. Osgood: the identification of the semantic profiles in key pedagogical phenomena and processes, peculiar to pedagogues (Osgood, May, & Miron, 1975).

Methods for revealing mythologized representations with future teachers

Conceptual-narrative forms were identified using the following methods:

"Pairs of affirmations" method. Students were offered pairs of statements, including a scientific and everyday view or two ordinary representations. In each pair of statements it was suggested to choose the one with which the subject agreed.

Figurative-symbolic forms were revealed by the method of the semantic differential of Osgood (Osgood, May, & Miron, 1975). Diagnostics was done in two stages. At the first stage, preparatory work was carried out, related to the selection of adjectives, so that in the second stage of the diagnosis, the necessary "hit in the mental field" of the students is achieved. To solve this problem, the method of unfinished sentences was used.

The second stage of diagnosis suggested the direct application of the technique. Subjects had to evaluate, with the help of a set of bipolar scales of adjectives, four main objects of pedagogical reality: the modern teacher, students, the pedagogical process, conflicts with students. Each scale had seven gradations. The extreme poles of the scale (values ​​"-3" and "+3") corresponded to extreme negative and positive evaluation, the average division (0) made it possible not to answer in case of difficulty. On each scale, there was a shift in the direction of positive or negative estimates. The assessments of future teachers of the Russian language and literature, and primary school teachers (graduation students) were compared. To compare the estimates, we used the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test. According to the results of the semantic differential, mythological constructs were represented in a set of negative generalized images: "Negative generalized image of modern students"; "Negative generalized image of a modern teacher"; "Negative generalized image of the present-day pedagogical process"; "Negative generalized image of conflicts with students".

We used the method of frequency analysis to compile semantic profiles that allow us to correlate conceptual-narrative and figurative-symbolic constructs. For the compilation of such profiles, scales were identified, the estimates of which corresponded to the basic concept (the asserted value) of the construct, and for which there was a shift towards negative estimates. We counted the number of students who marked the extreme negative characteristics (-2; -3) on the scales that corresponded to the content of the construct. With the help of semantic profiles, conceptual-narrative constructs, identified by the technique of "Pairs of affirmation", and figurative-symbolic constructs, diagnosed with the help of a semantic differential, were compared.

The results of the diagnosis of the views of future teachers

The results of the method "Pairs of affirmations" showed that the students of the first year gave first place (93%) to the idea, contradicting the humanitarian paradigm: "The work of a teacher is a complete hassle, eternal martyrdom caused by children" (practicing teachers have it in much fewer cases - only 16% with pre-school teachers and 30% with school teachers, which suggests the possibility of overcoming it in the course of actual professional activity). Next in prevalence is "myths of the ideal image of the teacher," which are at the base of the technological, formal ways of pedagogical interaction ("A good teacher hides his real feelings from schoolchildren" (57%), "A good teacher answers any question" (21%) and mythologized views of students ("Modern-day children do not want to study" (50%), "It is necessary to teach only those who want to learn" (14%). Less favorable with first-year students is the views: "The method is omnipotent", "Conflicts with students are inevitable and conflicts bring nothing good for the teacher (7%) (that said, among practicing teachers there is a higher number: "The method is omnipotent" - 36% with pre-school educators and 40% with school teachers, "Conflicts with students are inevitable and conflicts bring nothing good for the teacher" - with 27% and 16% respectively), as well as "Teacher is always right" (7%) (with practicing teachers this mythological construct is absent altogether).

The students of the final year have the following idea in the first place "A good teacher hides his real feelings from schoolchildren" (51%). Then follow "It is necessary to teach only those who want to learn" (36%), "The method is omnipotent" (26%), "A good teacher answers any question" (20%), "The work of a teacher is a complete hassle, eternal martyrdom", "Modern-day children do not want to study" (19%). The least popular with graduate students are "Conflicts with students are inevitable and they bring nothing good for the teacher", "The pedagogical process is coercion" (8%), "The teacher is always right" (3%).

The results of diagnostics of figurative and symbolic constructs in future teachers (using the method of the semantic differential of C. Osgood): the results, obtained with the help of the semantic differential, allowed us to present the image-symbolic constructs available to the students in a certain set of negative generalized images: modern students, teachers, the pedagogical process, conflicts with students.

Negative generalized image of modern students in the perception of first-year students is represented by the following characteristics: lazy (60%), arrogant, stubborn (40%), ungrateful, quiet, uncontrollable (33%), greedy (27%), rampant, dependent, ruthless 20%). The number of negative assessments is somewhat reduced towards the graduation year, but the list is much the same: rampant (44%), excitable (39%), dependent (30%), obstinate, stubborn (22%), quick-tempered, individualistic (20%), unorganized (17%), self-interested (16%), frivolous (13%), insolent (11%).

Modern teacher is rated more positively than the pupils, but negative assessments are also present: imperturbable, nervous (33%), authoritarian, formal, strict, captious (20%), indifferent, conflicting, degrading, disappointed, underestimating (13%). Towards the final year, the number of negative assessments is somewhat reduced: authoritarian (23%), abusive (22%), severe (20%), nervous (17%), picky, underestimating (15%), boring, quick-tempered (13%), tough, degrading (11%).

The negative generalized image of the modern pedagogical process in the perception of 1st-year students is represented by the following characteristics: coercive (27%), offensive (20%), formal, conflictive (13%), temperamental, template, static, conservative (7%). Graduation students generally shift to the negative side in comparison with the first year: compulsory (35%), template-dependent (28%), boring, monotonous (26%), everyday, formal (22%), forceful, prescriptive, uninteresting (15%), mechanical, chaotic (13%), depressing, offensive (11%). The students of both the first and final courses are dominant by the assessment of the pedagogical process as "coercive," which does not correspond to the humanitarian paradigm either.

The results of the semantic differential also showed an incorrect understanding of pedagogical conflict by students. Negative assessments of the latter by students of the first and final courses practically coincide both in number and in assortment: conflicts with students are inevitable (33%), natural (20%), meaningless (13%), unsolvable, permanent, unsuccessful (7) – first year students; unacceptable (33%), unavoidable, uncontrollable (20%), regular, unproductive, inconclusive (9%) - graduation students.

The semantic profile of the mythological construct " The work of the teacher is a complete hassle, eternal martyrdom " is in the field of the generalized image of the modern teacher and includes the basic assessment - nervous (1st year - 33%, 4th year - 17%) and additional assessments: hot-tempered (4^th year - 13 %), disappointed (1^st year - 13%). As it can be seen, this representation is more typical for 1st-year students.

The semantic profile of the mythological construct " A good teacher hides his true feelings from schoolchildren " is also in the field of the generalized image of the modern teacher and includes the basic assessment - imperturbable (1^st year - 33%), and additional gradations: formal (1^st year - 20%), indifferent (1^st year - 13%). Although there were no extreme negative grades (-2, -3) by the 4th year students for " imperturbable - vulnerable " scale, however, the average grade for this gradation with 4th-year students (-1, 1 with future teachers of the Russian language and literature; and 0,3 for primary school teachers) allows one to talk about the presence of the idea "A good teacher hides his real feelings from schoolchildren" among this group of respondents, but with a lesser degree of severity.

The semantic profile of the mythological construct "Modern-day children do not want to study" is represented by the following negative assessments of the generalized image of modern students: the main assessment is - lazy (1^st year - 60%), additional gradations: unorganized (4^th year - 17%), frivolous (4^th year - 13 %). As we see, figurative-symbolic mythological forms, correspond to the idea "Modern-day children do not want to study," are more pronounced among the students of the first year.

The semantic profile of the mythological construct "Conflicts with students are inevitable and conflicts bring nothing good for the teacher" is represented by the following set of negative assessments of the generalized image of conflicts with students: basic assessments: unavoidable (1^st year - 33%, 4^th year - 20%), unproductive (4^th year - 9%); additional gradations: meaningless (1^st year - 13%), unsolvable (1^st year - 7%), fruitless (1^st year - 7%, 4^th year - 9%), uncontrollable (4^th year - 20%), inherent (1^st year - 20%, 4^th year - 9%), constant (1^st year - 7%). As one can see, figurative-symbolic forms corresponding to this representation are somewhat more expressed with 1^st year students than with 4^th year students.

The semantic profile of the mythological construct "Teacher is always right" is found in the fields of generalized images of the modern teacher and modern students and includes the following negative assessments: the basic assessment is the authoritarian teacher (1^st year - 20%, 5^th year - 23%), additional gradations: the teacher is tough (5^th year - 11%), students are dependent (1^st year - 20%, 5^th year - 30%). The figurative-symbolic forms corresponding to this representation are more pronounced among the graduate students.

The semantic profile of the mythological construct "The pedagogical process is coercion" was revealed in the field of the generalized image of the modern pedagogical process and is represented by the following negative assessments: the basic assessment is coercion (1^st year - 27%, 5^th year - 35%), additional gradations: forcing (1^st year - 7%, 5^th year - 15%), depressing (5^th year - 11%), attacking (1^st year - 20%). The figurative-symbolic forms corresponding to this representation are more expressed with the graduate students.

The semantic profile of the mythological construct "The method is omnipotent" is presented in the field of the generalized image of the modern pedagogical process with the following negative assessments: basic assessments – template-like (1^st year - 7%, 5^th year - 28%), prescriptive (1^st year - 7%, 5^th year - 15 %), additional gradations - static (5^th year - 7%). The results show a greater intensity of the figurative-symbolic forms with the graduate students. This distribution of results is quite understandable: this view is related to a specific aspect of the teacher's activity, with which the graduate students are more familiar (different methods of teaching and upbringing have been studied and tested in pedagogical practice).

Correlation analysis of the relationship of these forms using Spearman coefficient of rank correlation showed a statistically significant correlation between the conceptual-narrative and image-symbolic forms of the following mythological constructs: "The work of a teacher is a complete hassle, eternal martyrdom" (p≤0.05); “Good teacher hides his true feelings from schoolchildren”, “Modern-day children do not want to study”, “The technique is omnipotent”, “Conflicts with students are inevitable and they bring nothing good for the teacher”, “The teacher is always right”, “The pedagogical process is coercion” (p ≤ 0.01);

The results of the diagnosis of the views of future teachers

With respect to the gnostic function, the views that reflect the dependence of the results of pedagogical activity solely on the amount of wages prevail (the view "Efficiency of the teacher depends on his salary" was estimated as true by 87% of the teachers of the pre-school and 47% of the school teachers - the percentage divergence is probably related to the difference in the salary levels of the pre-school and school teachers - the lower the salary of the teacher, the more significant for the teacher is its influence on the effectiveness of pedagogical activity). 22% of teachers are convinced of the negative impact of reform on the quality of education. For 11% of them, the negative image of the pedagogical profession is a fact ("The work of a teacher is a complete hassle").

In the context of the communicative function, the idealizing images of the teacher are based on the obligation: "The teacher must love children" (87% of the teachers of the preschool, 100% of teachers in schools), "The teacher must adapt himself to the child" (57% of the teachers of the preschool, 58% of the teachers of schools), "A good teacher hides his real feelings from children" (60% of teachers at the preschool, 20% of teachers in schools), "A good teacher knows everything, answers any question" (56% of teachers at the preschool, 44% of school teachers). For a smaller number of teachers, the wrong understanding, the absolutization of ideas of a humanistic or authoritarian conception of upbringing is quite characteristic: "Communication between the teacher and the child should be built" as “equals”(44% of the teachers of the pre-school educational establishments, 41% of school teachers), “The teacher must dominate, the children must fear and obey him, otherwise upbringing is impossible” (56% of teachers in schools; for educators of pre-school this idea is not typical, which allows us to conclude that - the older the child is, the more difficult it is for the teacher to follow the humanistic concept in the process of upbringing). 27% of pre-school educators and 16% of schoolteachers absolutize the negative role of conflicts in education: 27% of pre-school teachers and 18% of schoolteachers adhere to the view “Conflicts with students are inevitable and they bring nothing good for the teacher”.

In the framework of the constructive function, the ideas that are associated with the denial of the need for the regulation of education by the state prevail: “Give teachers freedom to create, do not tie teachers rigidly to the program and the textbook, and the quality of the learning process will increase dramatically” (100% of pre-school teachers, 73% of school teachers); “There should be no priorities in training” (59% of pre-school teachers, 27% of school teachers); “The introduction of new educational standards will reduce the quality of education” (27% of pre-school teachers, 44% of school teachers - school teachers in larger numbers tend to negatively assess the introduction of new standards); “The introduction of new educational standards will not affect the quality of education in any way” (27% of pre-school teachers, 44% of school teachers). Along with the desire for creativity and fewer restrictions, in the pedagogical environment there is an absolutization of the methodology: the view "The Method is omnipotent" was estimated as correct from the point of view of their own experience by 46% of the teachers of the pre-school and 30% of schoolteachers. The teachers also have incorrect assessments of the social environment and the child as an object of constructive activity: “The characteristics of the child are determined by the environment. It is possible to accurately predict all its impacts and influences” (90% of the teachers of the pre-school educational establishment, 41% of teachers of schools – pre-school teachers, in larger numbers than schoolteachers tend to overestimate the influence of the environment on the results of education); “It is necessary to teach only those who want to learn” (14% of teachers of the preschool, 31% of teachers in schools), “Modern children do not want to study” (26% of teachers of pre-school education, 16% of school teachers) , “Some children are learning disabled and cannot be educated” (14% of preschool teachers, while this view is typically not shared by school teachers).

In the context of the organizers' function, teachers have constructs associated with an increased threshold of responsibility and the fear of delegating to students (the view “Teacher is responsible for everything” is rated as true by 73% of pre-school teachers and 61% of school teachers), with a hypertrophied desire to control children (“If I do not constantly control children, the educational process will turn into chaos” - 59% of the teachers of the pre-school, 83% of the school teachers), with a misunderstanding of their role in the educational process (“The main subject in educational process is the student” 30% of pre-school educators and 61% of schoolteachers) with false connections between personality traits and the ability to learn (“The more disciplined and diligent the child is, the higher his ability to learn” 87% of pre-school educators and 46% of school teachers). Mythologized understanding of the teachers' relations with the management of the educational institution reflects the view “Teachers in their activities must follow the instructions of the leadership”, which was assessed as true from the perspective of their own experience by 74% of teachers at the preschool level and 70% of school teachers.

Some teachers (10-20%) realize that the ideas they follow in their practical activities come into conflict with scientific norms; but they consciously adhere to mythological constructs, considering them to be more effective from practical standpoint. The rest reflect that the mythological constructs that they follow correspond to scientific norms. Some of the teachers (30-50%) recognize the statements with opposite content as true, which indicates the dialectic nature of their thinking and the possibility of seamless correction of mythological constructs by logical analysis.

The results, obtained by the method of unfinished sentences, correlate with the results of the methodology by Ja. Woititz and the existence of mythological constructs shared by teachers, associated with rejection of themselves in the profession, the idealization of themselves as teachers, the lack of striving for professional self-improvement, the selective attitude towards children, the rejection of their shortcomings, the lack of understanding of the significance of design and planning in the work of a teacher, shifting responsibility for the effectiveness of their activities to other actors and circumstances.

According to the results of the semantic differential of C. Osgood, the respondents' idealization of the image of themselves as teachers was confirmed. Their pupils are estimated by teachers higher than children in general. For the lack of effectiveness of their work teachers tend to "blame" the new standards, and do not wish to recognize that much depends on them, as subjects of implementation of said standards. Some teachers perceive their interaction with students from the standpoint of an outdated authoritarian concept of upbringing.