Conflict between truthfulness and tact in parent–teacher conferences

ConversationsParticipantsObservations and interviews1. About TomSpecial needs teacher 1 (f), class teacher (m), assistant (f), school psychologist (m) mother, and father.Observation (s), interview with the special needs teacher (t) and a joint interview with the parents(s).2. About RitaSpecial needs teacher 2 (f), mother, and pupil.Observation, interview with the teacher, and interview with the mother (all s).3. About RogerSpecial needs teacher/class teacher 3 (f), mother, and pupil.Observation, interview with the teacher and interview with the mother (all t).4. About RobertSpecial needs teacher 4 (f), class teacher (f), advisor (m), school psychologist (f), mother, and pupil.Observation, interview with the special needs teacher (about the conversations 4–7), and interview with the mother (all t).5. About JohnSpecial needs teacher 4 (f), class teacher (f), advisor (m), school psychologist (f), mother, father, and pupil.Observation, interview with the special needs teacher (about the conversations 4–7), and a joint interview with the parents (all t).6. About EvaSpecial needs teacher 4 (f), class teacher (f), school psychologist (f), mother, and pupil.Observation, interview with the special needs teacher (about the conversations 4–7) and interview with the mother (all t).7. About GeorgSpecial needs teacher 4 (f), class teacher (f), advisor (m), school psychologist (f), mother, father and pupil.Observation, interview with the special needs teacher (about the conversations 4–7) and a joint interview with the parents (all t).8. About MariaClass teacher 5 (f), special needs teacher 6 (f), father, and the pupil.Observation (s) and joint interview with the two teachers about the conversations 8–11 (t).9. About HannahClass teacher 5 (f), special needs teacher 6 (f), mother, and father.Observation (s) and joint interview with the two teachers about the conversations 8–11 (t).10. About SarahClass teacher 5 (f), special needs teacher 6 (f), mother, father, and the pupil.Observation (s) and joint interview with the two teachers about the conversations 8–11 (t).11. About NorahClass teacher 5 (f), special needs teacher 6 (f), mother, and the pupil.Observation (s) and joint interview with the two teachers about the conversations 8–11 (t).12. About AnneSpecial needs teacher 7 (f), special needs teacher 8 (m) and mother.Observation, joint interview with the two teachers (about conversations 12–13) and interview with the mother (all t).13. About RuthSpecial needs teacher 7 (f), special needs teacher 8 (m), mother, and father.Observation, joint interview with the teachers (about conversations 12–13), and joint interview with the parents (all t).14. About EricClass teacher (m), mother, and pupil.Interview with the mother (t).15. About PerSpecial needs teacher/class teacher 9 (f) and mother.One interview with the teacher about conversations 15–17 (t).16. About MarcusSpecial needs teacher/class teacher 9 (f) and father.One interview with the teacher about conversations 15–17 (t).17. About NoahSpecial needs teacher/class teacher 9 (f) and mother.One interview with the teacher about conversations 15–17 (t).About last conversationsInterview with special needs teacher (t).About last conversationsInterview with special needs teacher (t).Notes: Each of the interviewed teachers has been given an identifying number in Appendix 1 and, as illustrated; some of the teachers have been interviewed about several conversations; t, audio-taped and transcribed; s, noted and made summaries; f, female; m, male; the first three pupils in the table are in the primary school section and the rest are in lower secondary school.