A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Touching the Untouchables : Pre-Service Teachers' Views About the Rights of the Child Based on Focus Group Discussions (2022)

Paksuniemi, M., Körkkö, M., Korte, S.-M., Joona, T. J., & Kesitalo, P. (2022). Touching the Untouchables : Pre-Service Teachers' Views About the Rights of the Child Based on Focus Group Discussions. In N. Chitadze (Ed.), Global Dimensions of Democracy and Human Rights : Problems and Perspectives (pp. 185-201). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4543-3.ch008

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Paksuniemi, Merja; Körkkö, Minna; Korte, Satu-Maarit; Joona, Tanja Joona; Kesitalo, Pigga

Parent publication: Global Dimensions of Democracy and Human Rights : Problems and Perspectives

Parent publication editors: Chitadze, Nika

ISBN: 978-1-6684-4543-3

eISBN: 978-1-6684-4545-7

Publication year: 2022

Pages range: 185-201

Number of pages in the book: 345

Publisher: IGI Global

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4543-3.ch008

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Abstract

This chapter discusses pre-service teachers' views about the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child and how teachers perceive their connection to the educational context and their work. The authors argue that pre-service teachers' perceptions determine how successfully human rights education is implemented in practice. The data were collected from workshops and focus group discussions conducted with 82 primary school pre-service teachers in Northern Finland. The participants noted that children's rights are important and deeply connected to their work. However, they were insufficiently familiar with HRE concepts, and they were uncertain about whether it was acceptable to physically restrain children to protect them or others, as this could undermine a child's rights. To adhere to the principles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the topic must be included in the pre-service study syllabus, more clearly added to the curriculum, and implemented in teacher practice.

Keywords: preschool education; early childhood education and care; lower comprehensive school; children (age groups); rights; children's rights; child's status; international agreements; Convention on the Rights of the Child; teachers; conceptions; curricula

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1