The Communication Barriers between Teachers and Parents in Primary Schools
Öz
Problem Statement: In educational institutions, the
effectiveness of communication between teachers and parents, in terms of
student achievement and attendance, has a great importance. Parent-teacher
communication provides multi-faceted benefits to teachers, the school, and
parents as well. However, various obstacles hinder the realization of effective
parent-teacher communication in school settings.
Purpose of Study: The main purpose
of this study is to determine the communication barriers between parents and
teachers, based on the views of primary school teachers. This study is seen as important since it
addresses the barriers in communication, which is seen as vital for achieving
educational aims effectively. Effective communication provides achievement and
improvement by providing support to parents, students, teachers, and schools
and promoting appropriate environments.
Method: This research is a survey type descriptive
study. Due to the stratified and random type sample formation, 850 teachers
were considered to be taken into the research sample; however, 514 of the
distributed questionnaires were found valid. The data collection tool used was
a four-dimensioned scale developed by the researchers themselves. In the analysis
of the data, parametric and non-parametric tests were used.
Findings: The findings revealed that teachers
experienced “individual” barriers at a “general” level, but other
“socio-cultural,” “accessibility,” and “field and status” related barriers at were
experienced at the “very rare” level without any significant differences
considering the gender and branches of the teachers. However, novice teachers
(5 years and less work experience) stated significantly the most individual
barriers and the most barriers related to the other dimensions as well.
Results and
Suggestions: The results obtained in this study show the same major communication
preventive issues between teachers and parents documented in the literature.
Thus, results such as physical distance, socio-cultural differences (language,
dress, values), meeting with parents only when money is required, parents’ lack
of trust in teachers and their unwillingness for cooperation, parents’
financial problems and lack of interest about informing parents of school-related
issues, inappropriate schedule of school activities, teachers’ misbehaviors,
parents’ education level, parents’ mistrust in teachers and managers, and the
like also confirm the situation represented in previous research. It was recommended that school managers and
teachers adopt an open-door policy for parents; and the schools should take the
initiative of realizing collaborative efforts among the school staff, parents,
and other relevant institutions in order to eliminate communication barriers.
The training of the school administrators, teachers, and families about gaining
effective communication skills that will contribute to student achievement
should be emphasized.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Kaynakça
- Acikalin, A., & Turan, S. (2015). Okullarda etkili iletisim [Effective communication in schools]. Ankara: Pegem Academy.
- Aslan, B. (1984). Relationships between school and family at primary education level in central districts of Ankara. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Hacettepe University Institute of Social Sciences, Ankara.
- Aslanargun, E. (2007). The review of literature on school-parent cooperation and students’ school success. MANAS Journal of Social Studies, (18), 119-135.
- Aytac, T. (2000). Egitim yönetiminde yeni paradigmalar: Okul merkezli yonetim [A new paradigms in educational administration: School-based management]. Ankara: Nobel Publishing.
- Basaran, S., & Koc, F. (2000). Ailenin cocugun okuldaki egitimine katilim sorunlari ve katilimin saglanmasi icin alternatif bir model [Participation issues of families to education in the school and an alternative model for enabling families to participate to education]. Ankara: MEB Department of Educational Research and Improvement.
- Bursalioglu, Z. (2008). Okul yonetiminde yeni yapi ve davranis [New structures and behaviors in school management]. Ankara: Pegem A Publishing.
- Buyukozturk, S. (2012). Sosyal bilimler icin veri analizi el kitabi [Handbook of data analysis for social sciences]. Ankara: Pegem A Publishing.
- Caspe, M. S. (2003). How teachers come to understand families. The School Community Journal, 13(1), 115-131.
Ayrıntılar
Birincil Dil
İngilizce
Konular
-
Bölüm
Araştırma Makalesi
Yayımlanma Tarihi
15 Aralık 2016
Gönderilme Tarihi
15 Aralık 2016
Kabul Tarihi
-
Yayımlandığı Sayı
Yıl 2016 Cilt: 16 Sayı: 66