How vocational school principals perceive their role

ABSTRACT

This study examines how vocational school principals in Israel perceive their role. A qualitative methodology was applied, with data derived from semi-structured interviews of 22 vocational school principals. We adopted a thematic analysis approach to analyze the interview transcripts, revealing three major themes: (1) the principals’ professional paths and motivations; (2) the principals’ perceptions of vocational school as a space of marginality and its ramifications; (3) the impact of the vocational students’ marginality on the principal’s role. The article discusses the principals’ descriptions of their role in the context of the ‘coalition of despair’, highlighting how education and welfare professionals’ experiences parallel those of the marginalized populations they serve. Moreover, the impact of the principals’ perception of their role in social inequality is addressed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. It is important for us to describe our position in relation to this debate for the purpose of transparency and a critical reading of our article. We view vocational schools in Israel and other countries (Agrawal, 2013) as stigmatized spaces (as manifested in their public image and being populated by students from disadvantaged groups) and find these spaces to be linked to inequality. Thus, we encourage critical thinking about these schools. We also encourage normative readings of vocational schools as suggested by Giesinger (2017). Giesinger proposed examining vocational schools in German-speaking countries using concepts and processes of educational justice.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Israel Science Foundation [1253/17].

Notes on contributors

Mirit Haybi-Barak

Mirit Haybi-Barak, PhD. She is a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Counseling and Human Development, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Israel. Her academic research interests are intercultural psychology, עroup facilitation, education and social exclusion.

David Bitan

David Bitan is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Leadership and Leadership in Education, Faculty of Education University of Haifa, Israel. His main academic interests are management and leadership, educational leadership, school management.

Avihu Shoshana

Avihu Shoshana is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Haifa, Israel. His main academic interests are psychological anthropology; psychology of class, ethnicity and race; everyday racism and microaggression; anthropology of education; everyday inequalities.