CROSS

Critical Research on School Spaces (CROSS) is an interdisciplinary research group bringing together scholars from across the Nordic countries. The group focuses on the study of school spaces, examining them from societal, political, historical, and philosophical perspectives.

CROSS challenges conventional notions that school spaces are neutral, thoroughly controllable environments where learning simply takes place. Instead, the group’s research exposes the complexities underlying these spaces, highlighting how they shape and are shaped by interests, ideologies, and expert knowledge.

The group’s critical approach serves multiple purposes. It first emphasizes that school spaces are far from being mere physical settings; they are historically and socially constructed, infused with power dynamics. Secondly, CROSS identifies existing or historical alternatives to the planning and organization of school spaces, demonstrating that there are always possibilities for change when the status quo appears immutable. Finally, the group advocates for practices in designing, constructing, and utilizing school spaces that are dialogical, democratic, and aligned with values of societal justice, equality, and wellbeing.

CROSS is committed to fostering a deeper understanding of the role school spaces play in education and society. Through its research, the group seeks to contribute to a broader, transformative dialogue about how these spaces can better reflect and support equitable and inclusive principles. By questioning and reimagining school spaces, CROSS aims to inspire ethically sustainable innovation and progress in educational environments.