Pupils' responsibilities in school : A study of teachers' view on pupil responsibility in Primary School

Background: Pupils’ responsibilities are presented in the curriculum Lgr11 as a given thing. There has been some research in the field of pupil responsibility, but research covering school grades 1-3 could not be found. The study investigates theories of responsibility, pupil responsibility, power and pupil influence. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out the teachers’ views on pupil responsibility. The study will answer two questions; firstly what is the interviewed teachers’ view on the concept of pupil responsibility in primary schools (grade 1-3)? Secondly what do the interviewed teachers’ see as responsible behavior and what do the teachers expect from pupils’, regarding pupil responsibility in primary school (grade 1-3)? Method: In order to investigate this, five structured qualitative interviews were made, with five teachers from primary schools. The study is based on these five teachers’ views, which means that the study can not give an overall view of pupil responsibility. Result and conclusions: The study shows that these teachers have similar views on the concept of pupil responsibility. Pupil responsibility involves responsibility for their studies and to be disciplined, for themselves and the collective. Teachers expect responsible behavior, keeping in mind the age and the mental level the pupils are at