Understanding student resistance as a communicative act

Abstract

In the current era of "zero tolerance", disciplinary practices including punishment, expulsion, physical and psychological surveillance, and confinement, are a major part of resistant students' lived experiences. This article is an ethnographic study of student resistance that is observed in an alternative high school in the U.S., which serves students expelled from regular schools for their acts of resistance. The purpose of this study is to explore how understanding of the meaning of student resistance can be used as a theoretical and pedagogical medium with which teachers can create an equitable, educational milieu that upholds views and experiences of the marginalized students. The study also offers a new insight into resistance theory drawing upon Dewey's transactional theory of resistance as a communicative act to further suggest what might be possible for the teachers and students to transcend conflicts in order to establish a more meaningful teacher-student relationship, moving beyond zero-tolerance policies.The Meaning of Student Resistance 2

University Students’ Resistance Behaviors: Sample of Anadolu University

“…Learners need to know the benefits and gains of the learning unit. That is, when the learning content is irrelevant and meaningless for the students, they would likely to oppose fulfill their responsibilities, disrupt or violate the classroom rules (Benson, 2010;Bryant & Bates, 2010;Kim, 2010). Lecturers stated that when students have low self-esteem about their academic abilities then they could again become resistant.…”

“…Results stated that authoritarian families could be the source of student resistance. Although there are very few studies covering family as a sub factor of student resistance, academic or non-academic expectation of families and their emotional stress can cause resistance (Kim, 2010;Vetter et al, 2012).…”

Understanding Reading Motivation for At-Risk Adolescent Girls

“…For the purposes of this paper, resistance is defined as the explanation of the various student behaviors occurring within the school that may indicate the existence of conflicts between the student and authority of the school [12]. It is important to note that this resistance is not two sided (i.e.…”

“…Kim claims that resistance can be used to explain the student behaviors that result due to the tensions and conflicts some students feel as a result of school level authority [12]. Resistance is contextual and works as a part of student created and refined identity kits.…”

“…Resistance is contextual and works as a part of student created and refined identity kits. Resistance may be expressed in terms of self-defense, as a refusal to learn, or empowerment, seen when students don't feel they are being challenged or receiving appropriate instruction, or may even be evident as a moral imperative [12].…”