Last month, the book The International Handbook of Teacher Ethos, edited by Fritz Oser, Karin Heinrichs, Johannes Bauer and Terence Lovat has been published by Springer. Among its 27 chapters, the handbook includes “Teacher’s Ethos and Moral and Professional Identity“, authored by Dr. Buxarrais.

From the Introduction of the handbook:

This volume is the first handbook that brings together cutting-edge international research on teacher ethos from a broad array of disciplines. The main focus will be on research that illustrates current conceptualizations of ethos and its importance for acting effectively and responsibly in and out of the classroom. Research will encompass updated empirical and philosophical work that points to the difference in learning when teaching is practised as a moral activity instead of a merely functional one. Authors are among the world’s foremost researchers whose work crosses over from moral education into psychology, neuroscience, sociology, philosophy, pedagogy, and curriculum, drawing on these various fields of research.

Abstract of Dr. Buxarrais’ chapter: “Teacher’s Ethos and Moral and Professional Identity“

The professional identity of teachers and the moral dimensions of their work and authority are issues increasingly challenging in contemporary, global and diverse societies. This chapter addresses them, at first in theoretical terms, discussing the tension between the initial idealism of novice teachers versus the growing realism of experienced teachers, the tension between vocation and profession, and teacher’s ethos. Secondly, in empirical terms, based upon 19 face-to-face semi-structured interviews with experienced professionals, from public and private schools in Catalonia, pointed out by their peers as examples of good teachers. Their responses about the features that define a “good teacher” are analysed according to the attributed: (a) personal characteristics; (b) capacities; (c) ethical values; and (d) competences. Overall, their views underscore the importance of establishing positive and caring relations with pupils, fostering mutual trust among them, and educating them in values and morals, at least implicitly, by example. Also considered are variables such as the moral leadership of teachers in the classroom, their social and emotional skills, and their self- knowledge. Finally, the implications of the study are put in the context of the Model of Moral Personality Construction, which integrates key elements of other approaches to Character Education.