An Inquiry of Elementary School Teachers' Experiences in Small Schools

This study explored the experiences of primary school teachers working at small schools and their meanings by using the method of narrative inquiry. The participants were Mr. Park Seung-jin and Mr. Cho Bu-jang, mid-career male teachers with 14 and 19 years of teaching experiences respectively, working at small schools. Mr Park taught at a small school on an island, while Mr. Cho worked in a rural village area in Jeollanam-do. Data were collected through unstructured interviews and analyzed using the three-dimensional space narrative structure proposed by Clandinin and Connelly (2004). The results of the study revealed that Mr. Park Seung-jin's narrative encompassed both negative experiences such as conflicts with colleagues, a heavy workload, and challenges in adapting to a unique culture, and positive experiences related to an effective small school organizational culture. Meanwhile, Mr. Cho Bu-jang's narrative highlighted the difficulties of working as the head teacher of the administrative department (Gyo-moo-boo-jang) in a school where most teachers were less experienced, his aspiration for the ideal small school, and his growth process as a head teacher trying to realize the ideal. From the narratives of the two teachers, it can be inferred that teachers in small schools generally experience the burden of a heavy workload, as well as unfamiliarity and discomfort with unique cultural characteristics. Decision-making processes often involve discussion and consensus among all the teachers. Additionally, teacher experiences in small schools are significantly influenced by administrators and colleagues, while each teacher’s professionalism and attitude have a substantial impact on the entire school. Based on these results and discussions, recommendations have been made to improve the experiences of current and future teachers in small schools.