Trollspö och mirakelkur eller arbete som förändringsagent

: Yrkesrollen som speciallärare i praktik och teori

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to elucidate and analyze how teachers with special education specialization in mathematics development and its principals look at the role of the special education teacher and its tasks in relation to the degree system. The method selection in the implementation of the study was a qualitative method in the form of 10 interviews in which 5 special education teachers with a focus on mathematics development and its 5 principals participated. The selection of the interviewees was based on five criteria that were used to create a targeted selection.

The result was then analyzed based on Abbott's professional theory (1988) and from a relational and categorical perspective. The results show how the special education teachers main tasks are to conduct teaching and adapt the learning environment. One area that they have not succeeded in claiming to a greater extent is the development work. There are uncertainties among teachers, management and other professional roles at the schools concerning the special education teachers assignment, therefore the assignment may look different and thus appear to be locally negotiable.

What can be demonstrated is that the degree order is not what forms the basis of the design of the special education teachers assignments and tasks. The study shows that it is the principal's visions for the organization, competencies and the ability to control which has the decisive role for what conditions and obstacles to the implementation of the assignment.

The fact that the special education teacher is a part of student health framers appears to be an important prerequisite, also to have time to implement competence development and collaboration with other actors both inside and outside the school. An additional prerequisite is that the specialist teacher is allowed to work with what they are employed to do such as teaching, investigate and development work and not be served other tasks because of the organisation's sudden needs.