School and Amorphous Obesity: The Construction of Today's School

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Farhangian University

2 kashan university

10.22059/jisr.2026.409461.1709

Abstract

Schools in every society attempt to socialize students and educate them in a way that aligns with the goals and ideals of that society. Therefore, various scholars have discussed and analyzed this institution. The aim of this study is to investigate the construction of the school organization in contemporary society, exploring what approach the current school takes toward human education and what model of education it pursues. In other words, what outcome does the school define for students after twelve years of attendance?

In this research, inspired by theorists such as Michel Foucault, Paulo Freire, and Michael Apple, and using the grounded theory method, semi-structured interviews were purposefully conducted with 13 executive and academic experts in the field of education. The coding process was performed in three stages using Maxqda software. A total of 54 open codes and 9 axial codes were extracted, including: The Velvet Glove of Power, The Unambitious School, The Maximalist Family, The Erosion of the Meaning of Talent, The Objectification of Humans, The School Without Opportunity, The Controlling School, The Instrumentalization of Knowledge, The Reproduction of the Status Quo, and The Credential-Oriented School.

The concept of "School and the Fattening of Formlessness" was defined as the core category of this research. This concept suggests that today's school lacks the capacity to cultivate its desired subject. Based on its interaction with the institution of power and existing policies, the school has become a site for reproducing the existing forms of social groups. In such a situation, the school itself lacks formative power and compensates for its own formlessness by shaping individuals according to the symbolic capital of groups. Consequently, the school, which itself lacks a definite form, deepens a kind of formless education. This process ultimately leads to the reproduction of existing social structures rather than fostering critical and autonomous individuals.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Social Studies and Research in Iran

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 April 2026

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