Reflecting on biography as a factor in teachers’ self-development towards a welfare state

Educational Science and Social Work Institute, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania

Abstract

It is now widely recognised that the creation of a welfare state requires a sustained focus on one of the key drivers of educational change, schooling and, by extension, societal improvement: educators, who are expected to produce young people capable of participating actively and productively in change. The purpose of this work is to reveal the teacher’s attitude by reflecting on their biographies and the lived vocation to become a teacher, developing competences and participating in the process of educational change and creating a welfare state. The study used a biographical research. Qualitative research was conducted using narrative interviews. Fourteen participants took part in the study. The research instrument chosen was the biographical narrative interview. The research revealed that the choice of the teaching profession and the perception of vocation are triggered by biographical circumstances. The pedagogical potency and childhood interests in certain activities, as well as the awareness of one’s own needs, become the basis for the further development of abilities and skills. When an individual chooses a profession because of a vocation, it is as if there is a need for constant self-reflection on the part of the educator, which leads to the need for continuous development. By improving themselves, the educators also actively contribute to the change of the education system. Therefore, by educating the younger generation and constantly reflecting on their own experiences, educators actively contribute to social justice, changes in the country’s well-being, and thus to the creation of a welfare state.