Mapping Disturbing Behavior in School

• In Event: 64.028 - Transational Cartographies of Place, Space, and Desire

Abstract

Disturbing behavior has taken a center stage in education. There are innumerable models and interventions globally for preventing it or remedying it. At the same time, these efforts are directed at anything from violent crimes to litter in classroom; ‘Disturbing behavior’ (or its synonyms) does not refer to anything clearly definable. In this paper we argue that the term is so popular not because it would refer to an existing wordly phenomenon, but because it cites existing powerful discourses. The term is not “innocent”: it produces discourses, ideas and power relations in education. In this paper with discursive approach, we identify and discuss the discourses within which idea of disturbing behavior makes sense, and what it does in education.

Authors

• Maija-Liisa Lanas, University of Oulu

• Kristiina Brunila, University of Helsinki