1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The aim of this study [is] to explore and understand communication and parent child relationships within the home. To provide participants an opportunity to express their thoughts and perceptions on bullying, home-school collaboration, family communication and home life.» (p. 28-29)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
A total of seven families of «children with learning disabilities who were involved in some form of bullying» (p. 30) participated in this study. «The participants were part of a larger study that was being conducted in a suburban school. The school was part of the New Frontiers School Board (NFSB), it was an Anglophone board with schools located on the south shore of Montreal.» (p. 31)

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

The results show that «[c]hildren and parents discussed home and school as two entirely separate spheres of their lives. Parents liked having a relationship with the school, mainly when the school was able to accommodate the needs of the families and their preferred method of communication. Children described the positive and negative experiences at school. They pointed to specific courses, teachers, types of difficulties that they had experienced. Furthermore, home was perceived as a safe place and a source of comfort for both parents and children. Parents and children seemed to approach the topic of bullying a little differently. For some parents, bullying was seen as a “part of being a child” while other parents saw it as something they needed to be “proactive about”. When parents spoke about how they communicated and supported their children, they focused on methods and strategies they used to speak to them. As per the children, they seemed to always go to their mothers if they needed help. When parents were not available children would seek assistance from other people such as a close relative or a friend. The information from this project was valuable to better understand family communication and how it related to the home and school relationship and bullying.» (p. iii-iv)