The Relationship between Teachers’ Views about Cultural Values and Critical Pedagogy
Abstract
Problem
Statement: Known as basic elements directing individuals’ lives,
cultural values are hidden cultural elements that influence all evaluations and
perceptions. Values, in that sense, are elements individuals are aware of and
provide the answer to the “what should I do?” feeling (Schein, 1992). Critical
pedagogy is a project based on defining what education basically is and
questioning traditional education mentality (Yilmaz & Altinkurt, 2011). The
purpose of critical pedagogy is to transform educational practices and school
by creating an atmosphere where teachers and students develop common sense through
theory, practice, and critical analysis and where they can question and discuss
the effective relationships between learning and social transformation (Giroux,
2007; 2009).
Purpose
of the Study: This study aims to assess the relationship
between teachers’ opinions on cultural values and critical pedagogy.
Method: The study
is in a survey model. The sampling of the study consists of 304 teachers
working in Kutahya province centre. Data was collected through Cultural Values
Index and The Principles of Critical Pedagogy Scale. Descriptive statistics,
t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation analyses were used in the analysis of the
collected data.
Findings:
The findings
suggest that teachers see the society with high power distance, above moderate
level in terms of avoiding uncertainty and individualism and close to feminine
values. It was also found out that teachers showed a moderate level agreement
in critical pedagogy principles and its sub-dimensions. Participants’ total
scores related to critical pedagogy principles and their opinions on
educational system sub-dimension were revealed to differ based on gender
variable. Participants’ opinions on cultural values and critical pedagogy
principles do not differentiate according to tenure and fields of study. There
are significant relationships between teachers’ opinions on cultural values and
critical pedagogy principles.
Conclusion and Recommendations: This study considers teachers’ scores
related to cultural values dimensions, which include Power Distance, Uncertainty
Avoidance, Individualism versus Collectivism, and Masculinity versus
Femininity. Teachers voted critical pedagogy principles in a medium-level. They
showed the highest participation successively in functions of schools,
education system and emancipator school levels amongst others. While the
participants’ perception of the power distance, individualism versus
collectivism, and masculinity versus femininity in the society increase, the
positive views about the education system sub-dimension increase. Furthermore,
while the participants’ perception of the power distance, individualism versus
collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity versus femininity in the
society increase, the positive views about the functions of schools decrease.
While the participants’ perception of the power distance in the society
increase, their participation in the views of the emancipator school
sub-dimension decrease. While the participants’ perception related to the
uncertainty avoidance increases the positive views about the Critical Pedagogy
decrease.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
December 15, 2016
Submission Date
December 15, 2016
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2016 Volume: 16 Number: 66