Abuse, degradation and conflicts in school. A qualitative study of text documents in cases at the Swedish Schools Inspectorate

In this study, 23 cases reported to the Swedish Schools Inspectorate are analysed using qualitative content analysis derived from a framework based on Swedish legislation. The results show that school staff and parents often expressed that those who had themselves behaved aggressively should not be viewed as victims of abuse. In most cases, there were divergent perceptions of what had happened as well as of social values and behavioural norms. The study highlights that the efficiency and the pros and cons of the broad and blurry distinction of the concept of degrading treatment in the Swedish Education Act should be discussed and that abusive actions should be counteracted regardless of relational contexts.