LA ORGANIZACIÓN DOCENTE EN EL NIVEL ESCOLAR: Implicancias para el profesorado organizado.

Teachers' associations have been a key agent in school reform processes. This research has focused on understanding their role in macro-social negotiation processes with the State, even though teachers' demands also occur within the school sphere and in the field of micro-political relations. Based on a qualitative study with narrative characteristics of 30 interviews with Chilean teachers, we aimed to describe and understand the role of organizations and organized teachers within the school context. The results show that organized teachers are recognized within the school micro-political framework, and that they are involved in negotiating power with the governing bodies and defending their peers from State regulations. The implications of teachers' associationism at another level of teachers' political struggles are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]