Democracy and ‘vocationality’ in day care institutions

Abstract

The consequences for the public sector following New Public Management and neoliberalism are enormous. Like other areas, ‘welfare work’ faces serious challenges if market and service logics continue to expand their domination. In the article, the situation for day care institutions are discussed drawing on results from two research projects. The focus is on the pedagogical personnel and shop stewards and their daily work. The article argues that challenges, but also opportunities for change, are found in the development of conditions for democracy and pedagogical ‘vocationality.’ New control mechanisms and demands for documentation and evaluation are setting the agenda, and centralization, fusion of institutions etc. are creating difficulties for shop stewards to be close to daily work activities. Also, the ‘vocationality’ that increasingly is being valued as important is what corresponds to the external demands. This leaves elements of daily pedagogical activities unnoticed and not recognized. Unions have the opportunity to combine a strategy for recognition and development of the pedagogical vocation as experienced in daily work practice with a strategy for development of democracy in the institutions. This points to the direct involvement of pedagogues and shop stewards, and it includes a discussion of the meaning of day care institutions as societal institutions as opposed to service oriented suppliers of consumer goods on a semi-regulated market.