Investigating the Current and Future Functions of Primary Schools Based on Primary School Teachers’ Opinions

Abstract

Serving to seed decency in children’s manners in society, to help them adopt new habits and to expand their social skills and emotional features, the functions of primary schools are of great importance in building the society. Thus, the purpose of this study is to describe the goals and functions of 21^st century primary schools based on the opinions of primary schools teachers. The study is conducted as part of an international research project. The research is designed as a qualitative study in order to describe the functions of primary schools from the perspectives of primary school teachers. In the study, the data is collected through semi-structured interviews from 20 volunteer primary school teachers working at different levels of primary schools located in Eskisehir, Turkey. Criterion and convenience sampling which are both categorized under purposeful sampling are used in determining the participants. The data obtained from the interviews is analysed through content analysis and the findings are presented under each research question. The findings of the research reveal that participant teachers emphasize three functions of primary schools as socialization, instruction and qualification. Nevertheless, socialization is perceived as the primary function of the primary schools, and functions of instruction and qualification follows it respectively. As for the findings related to role of families, teachers care about the cooperating with families especially in socialization issues.