ABSTRACT

This study has been carried out to determine the perceptions of primary teachers and the candidates about “primary teaching as a profession” through metaphors that they have created and to make comparisons of this scope. In the scope of this aim, participants of the study consist of 147 candidates of primary teachers who are studying at the faculty of education, the department of primary teacher training at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University and also 93 primary teachers who are working at state schools in Muğla in the spring term of 2015-2016 academic years. During data collection process, teachers and the candidates of primary teachers were directed a statement as follows “When its field specifications are considered, primary teaching as a profession to me is like ……; because ..…..” through a form. In the form the participants were asked for completing the sentence accordingly. In the study, the views of the participants are aimed to be analysed through qualitative approach. In the analysis of the obtained data, content analysis method has been utilized. According to the results of the study, the identified metaphors created by primary teachers and candidate primary teachers are classified under 15 different various categories. It is found that the metaphors created by teachers mostly assembled under “source of information”, “formative” and “nurturer” categories. Adding to that the metaphors of the teacher candidates are categorised under “parents”, “possessing various knowledge levels”, “guidance” categories. The study is not without limitations therefore, for the following studies the other shareholders as parents, students and so on, may be added to the participants of the study to come up with rather valid results.