Date

2004

Author

Gündoğdu, Kerim

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This qualitative exploratory case study focused on understanding how democracy and human rights education is carried out in a public elementary school in Turkey. A preliminary research was done in the USA in order to provide insight and experience into the study. An elementary school was chosen as a single case in Ankara. The study examined the perceptions of the school community (teachers, students, administrator and parents) related to democracy and human rights education through interviews. The participation to the study was completely based on voluntary action. Six teachers, 38 students, 16 parents and an administrator were interviewed. Observations and document analyses also enabled the researcher to find out the current instructional process concerning democracy and human rights education in different grade levels at elementary education. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Research results revealed that democracy is not only a goal to be reached, and not just a form of government but also a concept experienced in all stages of schools. The major finding of the study was that there is a gap between what the school teaches as theory and the reality experienced in school and at home. All participants agreed that democracy and human rights education should start at early grades, preferably in kindergarten through establishing authentic learning environments where a variety of instructional methods, techniques, materials, textbooks and technology are employed. Besides, the school community indicated the importance of character education, school culture and values that are reflected through the hidden curriculum in schools for effective democracy and human rights education.

Subject Keywords

Education (General)

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12605764/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/15008

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis