Abstract
INVESTIGATION OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION TEACHERS' ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS CONCERNING VALUES EDUCATION
The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of preschool teachers towards values education and their opinions about values education in preschool education. This study using mixed method was conducted with 110 preschool teachers working in the districts of İpekyolu, Tuşba and Edremit in Van province. In this study, "Values Education Attitude Scale" developed by Yaşaroğlu (2014) and semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher were used for data collection. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and descriptive analysis. As a result of the study, it was determined that preschool education teachers showed a high level of positive attitude towards values education; teachers are of the opinion that in preschool education, the values of respect, love, honesty, solidarity, sharing, responsibility, tolerance and cleanliness should be gained to children, teachers are of the opinion that although values education is included in preschool education curriculum, concrete activities are insufficient and the activities for values education are mostly left to the initiative of the teachers; the teachers mostly do drama, play and story activities for the children to gain the values in the curriculum; the majority of the teachers have problems in values education due to lack of family support, the child's cognitive/developmental characteristics and the physical inadequacy of the school. In this respect, it may be advisable to raise awareness of families and teachers about values education in preschool period and to increase materials/activities related to values education.
Keywords
Values education, preschool education, teachers, early childhood, mixed method.