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Teacher Learning in a Community of Practice: A Case Study of ...

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schoolwork as 'economic work'. This began to create confusion when he tried to draw<br />

the dist<strong>in</strong>ction between paid work and unpaid work. He also failed to probe why one<br />

pupil regarded the work <strong>of</strong>a librarian as unpaid work. In response to a question ask<strong>in</strong>g<br />

for an example <strong>of</strong>paid pr<strong>of</strong>essional work, a pupil answered that the work <strong>of</strong>a 'class<br />

pupil' was paid pr<strong>of</strong>essional work. John's response was simply to say 'no', without<br />

question<strong>in</strong>g how the pupil had arrived at that answer.<br />

The lesson cont<strong>in</strong>ued...<br />

Pupil: Doctor.<br />

John: Doctor. These are people who studied for the job. And they collect a wage<br />

or salary? Yes? (po<strong>in</strong>ts to a pupil).<br />

Pupil: Sir, work.<br />

John: (looks away disappo<strong>in</strong>tedly - then looks to another pupil - po<strong>in</strong>ts).<br />

Here, John received another dist<strong>in</strong>ctly <strong>in</strong>correct answer - <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong>EMS - but failed to<br />

engage with the pupil on the source <strong>of</strong>confusion. The concept 'paid pr<strong>of</strong>essional work'<br />

was <strong>in</strong>troduced <strong>in</strong>cidentally and was therefore not expla<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> a comprehensive manner.<br />

As can be seen <strong>in</strong> the extract that follows, John aga<strong>in</strong> did not dist<strong>in</strong>guish between<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essional and amateur soccer and why one was considered work and the other not.<br />

Pupil: Salary.<br />

John: Yes, they collect a salary. Is a soccer player a worker?<br />

Pupil: Yes.<br />

John: Which type <strong>of</strong> soccer player?<br />

Pupil: A pr<strong>of</strong>essional.<br />

John: Pr<strong>of</strong>essional - play<strong>in</strong>g for ...example?<br />

Pupil: Manchester United.<br />

John: (smiles) Manchester United.<br />

Pupil: England.<br />

John: (almost disappo<strong>in</strong>ted) Club man, which club?<br />

Pupil: Liverpool.<br />

John: These are pr<strong>of</strong>essional clubs. People are play<strong>in</strong>g sport and we call it work.<br />

They are enterta<strong>in</strong>ers okay. Now I got this worksheet that will cover the<br />

first part. Now I want you to do it <strong>in</strong> five m<strong>in</strong>utes, number I, 2, and 3. Right,<br />

we'll come to 4, 5 and 6 later on. Okay.<br />

(Pupi I helps to hand out worksheet).<br />

You will see there question 1 is what is work or why do people work? - (pause)<br />

very briefly try and answer that question. Why do people work?<br />

(Pupils work qUietly).<br />

168

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