Abstract
This interview study addresses the gap in earlier research by focussing on the narratives of 13 ADHD-diagnosed Finnish students regarding teacher reactive classroom management strategies. The data are analysed through narrative analysis. Five different narrative types are identified, in which teacher behaviour is evaluated as (1) disproportionate, (2) traumatising, (3) neglectful, (4) unfair and (5) understanding. The dominant storyline – common to the first four types – constructed the narrator's transgression as contingent upon and a justified reaction to teacher conduct. The vicious cycle of coercive classroom management strategies and the culture of blame between students and teachers are discussed.
1. Introduction
A large body of research addresses classroom management (CRM) issues from the teacher's viewpoint. The viewpoints of students e those being monitored, managed and governed by teachers e provide insights for CRM that are both complementary to and contradictory of those of teachers. This paper elaborates the importance of taking the student voice into account and addresses the issue of CRM by studying narratives of students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), one of the most common and contested neuropsychiatric disorders among youth.1 ADHD is generally strongly associated with behavioural, social and academic difficulties (e.g., Crundwell, 2005; Scholtens, Rydell, & Yang-Wallentin, 2013) and consequently, with disciplinary problems (Loe & Feldman, 2007) and struggles with CRM at school (Kos, Richdale, & Hay, 2006).
4. Discussion
his study has examined narratives about teachers' reactive CRM strategies as provided by 13 Finnish adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Five narrative types with different emphases have been identified and, except for one, all of them involve a negative evaluation of teacher conduct. The findings are summarised below in Table 1.
