University of Helsinki - A Leading European University

Hanhimäki, Eija
MTh
Department of Practical Theology
University of Helsinki
eija.hanhimaki (at) helsinki.fi
Tel. +358 40 5029057

The aim of the study is to investigate educators' moral roles and profiles in challenging urban schools in the context of educating moral sensibilities. In addition, the purpose of the study is to investigate critical incidents at school that arise ethical reflection with moral emotions and require ethically sensitive teaching. This kind of knowledge is important in teacher training to prepare the future teachers for their profession.

Educators' voices and stories tell about the everyday life of urban schools and their narration is the basis of this study. The research data consists of interviews of principals, teachers, students and parents. In addition, a school deacon from one school was interviewed. This study is part of Socrates Comenius project in which urban schools are studied as challenging learning environments. The European project includes 9 countries. The Finnish data has been gathered from 4 urban schools in Helsinki and Jyväskylä. Two of the schools are elementary schools (Meri-Rastila and Keltinmäki) and two are secondary schools (Normaalilyseo and Huhtaharju), and they are located in challenging urban contexts. The schools have been selected based on their good national results in educating diverse populations with multiple challenges. All the principals are successful respected leaders in their own communities.

In addition to qualitative data, there is also quantitative and observation data in this study. The qualitative data is analysed by using the narrative analysis and content analysis. Educators' narration and concrete examples are reported in this study. The results are analyzed and compared with earlier studies on, for example, moral roles and leadership and ethical dilemmas in teaching.

Department of Practical Theology

Prof. Kirsi Tirri