Professional identity of school teachers in the context of socio-historical dynamics of Russian society

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the specific nature of school teacher’s professional identity in the context of its stability maintenance in the Soviet and modern periods of Russian society development. Design/methodology/approach A total of 618 teachers of state comprehensive secondary schools were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire. The survey was divided into four semantic blocks: analyzing how teachers percept their own socio-economic situation; studying the structure of teacher’s social identity and determining the significance of professional identity; determining the nature of teacher’s motivation and professional values; and assessing the degree of labor precariatization. Findings This paper shows that a school teacher job had public prestige, social-labor and material guarantees, as well as ideological support from the state in the Soviet Russia. The excessive administrative burden, high social demands for teacher’s performance in the context of deteriorating economic situation in the country create risks for positive professional identity of teachers and, as a consequence, for societal integrity. Originality/value This study is relevant as it provides empirical measurements and substantiates macro-social effects of teacher’s professional identity. The excessive administrative load and high social demands for teacher’s performance in the context of deteriorating economic situation in the country create risks for maintaining the positive professional identity of teachers and, as a consequence, for societal integrity.

Is it true that educator certification guarantees professional teachers?

“…According to Kobakhidze (2013), certification policy in some ways improved teacher performance, social status and prestige in society. Klimenko et al (2018) revealed that school teacher job had high prestige within society, was a social work and gave financial security. Ideological support from the government was highly needed.…”

Information technologies and resources in the daily professional activities

“…It is interesting, the children like these lessons" (female, primary school teacher, 25 years old, teaching experience 4 years); "In general, anyone who knows how to use the Internet understands that you can find a large number of presentations on the necessary topics and just rewrite them for yourself" (male, Humanities, 26 years old, teaching experience 4 years). And minimize the risks that all teachers face, regardless of teaching experience, associated with an increased level of accountability and excessive bureaucracy [16].…”

The Influence of Geopolitical Factors and Multiculturalism on the Personnel Security of Russian Federation

“…Highly qualified specialists -those who are the generator of new ideas in industry, in the field of high technology; the complexity of building relationships in a multicultural environment between the country's population and immigrants who differ in a specific system of values, national traditions, and various religious views. In addition, we should not forget the issue of precarization that proceeds from the job instability and might lead to the serious distortions on the labour market (see Klimenko, Posukhova, 2018).…”