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The moral construction of the good pupil embedded in school rules

Linköping Universitet, Sweden, robert.thornberg{at}liu.se

The aim of this field study was to investigate the hidden curriculum of school rules delimited to the moral construction of ‘the good pupil’ embedded in the system of school rules in two primary schools. According to the findings, the rule system mediates a moral construction of the good pupil to the children, and this actually includes two constructions: the benevolent fellow buddy and the well-behaved pupil. Furthermore, a picture of a final learning outcome of this hidden or implicit citizenship education of school rules emerges: the good citizen who (1) does good to others and does not harm others, (2) functions well in the society and lives by its laws and norms, and (3) takes responsibility and does her or his very best. Critical thinking and the possibility of questioning, critically discussing and abolishing explicit rules are not parts of this picture.

Key Words: citizenship education • hidden curriculum • moral socialization • school rules

Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, Vol. 4, No. 3, 245-261 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1746197909340874


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