International Seminar 12.12.2019: Prof. Maria Assunção Flores
The Teaching Profession at the Crossroads: Contexts, Challenges and Possible Directions
Maria Assunção Flores
University of Minho, Portugal
In this talk I will draw on data from two empirical studies carried out in Portugal aimed at investigating issues of professionalism and professional development of teachers in a context marked by intensive school reform. Teachers face old and new demands in adverse times along with the worsening of their working conditions, the deterioration of their socio-economic status and the lack of career prospects. Some of them try to survive, others resist feelings of giving up by becoming more resilient and resisting. Professional values, sense of professionalism and identity along with the relational and emotional dimensions of teaching, and in some cases, school culture and leadership, explain why some teachers became more resilient and resistant than others. I will end with a number of issues that may contribute to discuss possible directions for enhancing the teaching profession.