ERIC Number: EJ1250818
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0007-1005
EISSN: N/A
Education Policies and Teacher Deployment in Northern Ireland: Ethnic Separation, Cultural Encapsulation and Community Cross-Over
Milliken, Matthew; Bates, Jessica; Smith, Alan
British Journal of Educational Studies, v68 n2 p139-160 2020
Education is a key mechanism for the restoration of inter-community relations in post-conflict societies. The Northern Ireland school system remains divided along sectarian lines. Much research has been conducted into the efficacy of initiatives developed to bring children together across this divide but there has been an absence of studies into the impact of educational division on teachers. A number of policies, separately and in combination, restrict teachers' options to move across and between the divided school sectors. The recruitment of teachers is excepted from fair employment legislation; details of teachers' community identity are consequently not collected, and little is known about the impact that ethnic identity, educational policies and sectoral practices have had on teacher deployment. This quantitative project investigates the extent to which the deployment of teachers in mainstream schools in Northern Ireland reflects the enduring community divide. It is observed that, whilst primary schools are staffed mainly by community-consistent teachers, there has been an increase in cross-over teachers in post-primary schools--particularly in the grammar sector. Around one-in-five teachers have had no educational experience outside of their community of origin; this cultural encapsulation may contribute to a reluctance to engage with contentious issues in reconciliation programmes.
Descriptors: Educational Policy, Teacher Distribution, Foreign Countries, Cultural Differences, Community Relations, Intercultural Communication, Teacher Transfer, Elementary Secondary Education, Elementary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Professional Identity, Catholic Schools, Catholics, Protestants, Catholic Educators, School Segregation, Religious Factors, Conflict
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (Northern Ireland); Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A