National Holidays in Greek Multicultural School: Vies of Pre- Service Teachers
Keywords:
National Holidays, multiculturalism, teachersAbstract
In early childhood education pupils have the opportunity to
come into first contact with the historical events and acquire the first
historical knowledge. However, research has shown the existence of strong
nationalist elements and the viewing of the nation as a homogeneous
entity and an unchanged Hellenism. The Greek educational system does
not take into account the cultural background of students coming from
other countries. This issue is the reason for conducting this survey, which
studied the views of prospective teachers on national celebrations, namely
their role and content. Their views on speeches, on the reproduction of
national identity, on national and political education and the institution of
parades in the context of the multicultural school are also explored. The
issue of research considers that prospective teachers agree with the
conduct of national celebrations in multicultural schools, but in a way that
should include other cultural groups as well. The survey was conducted in
spring of 2014, using a questionnaire with sixty close questions. The
sample of research consists of 120 students of the departments of primary
and pre-school education in the Faculties of Education in Thessaloniki and
Alexandroupoli and the department of Early Childhood education in
Thessaloniki (A.T.E.I.). According to the research results, the celebration of
national holidays in schools should not be abolished as national holidays
contribute to pupils learning about the history of the country and maintain
historical memory. What should be done, however, is to change the way
national holidays are presented in schools and the specific values they
promote to pupils.
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