Investigation of Opinions of Teachers, School Principals and Academicians on the Reports Prepared by Foreign Experts after the Proclamation of The Republic

Abstract

This study examines the opinions of classroom teachers, school administrators, and
academicians based on the reports of foreign education experts such as John Dewey,
Beryl Parker, and Kate V. Wofford, who were invited to the Republic of Turkey shortly
after its establishment. Firstly, in the study, the common and different views, findings,
and recommendations of foreign experts on primary education were identified. Secondly,
opinions of teachers, school principals, and academicians regarding the identified points
were consulted. The research employs a descriptive method. The data sources of the
research were the reports of foreign experts, classroom teachers and school principals
working at schools in villages/neighborhoods, district centers and city centers in Ankara,
as well as the academicians working at different universities. The research data was
collected through document review, surveys and interviews. The quantitative data of
the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, arithmetic
mean, and standard deviation), while the qualitative data were analyzed using content
analysis. The results of the document review indicate that the reports of foreign education
experts who are invited to the Republic of Turkey point out teaching programs, health
practices, the school system, the physical conditions of schools, the teaching-learning
process and the measurement-evaluation dimensions. The data obtained from classroom
teachers, school principals and academicians regarding these dimensions show that some
opinions, findings, and recommendations proposed by the foreign experts are still valid
today, which highlights the areas that need improvement in our education system.