The Role of the Student as a Subject/Object of Teaching Interaction in the Contemporary School

Abstract

Human subjectivity denotes possessing conscious experience and awareness of a “self”, an identity, individuality and mental autonomy. The subjectivity of the student is expressed in his or her right to create an own identity, to choose a system of values, as well as to self-fulfilment of his or her own needs and interests rather than needs and interests imposed by adults. This article at-tempts to demonstrate whether the student of the contemporary school is treated as a subject or an object of teaching interaction by teachers. On the basis of the accounts and opinions of pedagogy students, the article presents teacher behaviours which distinguish particular teacher-student relations. It also describes the consequences of both subjective and objective treatment of students by teachers.