Schools miss the mark on peer support, research shows
A study of sixth-graders reveals that loyalty and care among classmates operate in ways schools don't recognize or cultivate. Understanding these dynamics matters for educators designing interventions to improve social climates and mental health outcomes—and for policymakers shaping school accountability metrics.
Originaltitel: The dynamics of care and loyalty in peer relations
<p>The aim of this article is to enrich the care ethics framework by uncovering the relationship between care and loyalty, offering insights into the complexities of children’s experiences of care in school. Through twelve interviews with pupils in sixth grade, I analyse the intersection of loyalty and care. The findings reveal two dimensions, conceptualized as internal care loyalty and external care loyalty. Internal care loyalty involves the relationship between the one-caring and the cared-for, shaping the (1) motivation, (2) understanding, and (3) reciprocity of care. External care loyalty extends beyond this relationship, encompassing (1) social inclusion and (2) conflict support. Employing a perspective grounded in care ethics, deepens the understanding of the interconnection between care and loyalty among peers and actualize the question of partiality in an educational context. This article blends feminist philosophical theory with qualitative empiricism, shedding light on the complexity and nuances of caring in peer-relations.</p>