National education policy of Democrat Party (1950-1960)

Democratic Party has got an important place in the political history of Turkey. Democratic Party which has been found in January 1946 played an important role during the period of multy-party system. A short period after the foundation Democratic Party got a great support of the people and due to this support it won in the election made in 1950 with an extraordinary majority and came to power instead of Republican People's Party and in this way completed the one-party system. Democratic Party followed more liable political line in comparison with Republican People's Party and in order to provide the support of people the Democratic Party made concessions regarding laicism and in this way caused shaking of the basic principles of the Republic, the attrition of spiritual character of Atatürk and his revolution. On of the most criticised policies of Democratic Party was the policy of National Education.In order to grow up new generation Republic needed young people who are mordern, maintains the principles of revolution and Atatürk and is excessively fond of independence the policy of National Education played an important role. Republican People's Party in order to reach its aims made unbending steps during its rulership without making concessions to its principles. It made great efforts to spread revolution to the people.But the unbending policy of Republican People's Party in National Education entered the process of stagnation after the Democratic Party?s rulership. After Democratic Party became the ruling party divided the revolutions into two parts ones which have brought benefit to the people and ones which haven?t brought any benefit to the people and prepared the ground to fray the revolutions. As a result of the policy of laicism followed by the party in primary and secondary schools the religion lessons started to be taught again. All over the country the vocational religious high schools were organised. This step made because of the anxiety of vote wasn?t supervised very well and this gave rise to domination of religious orders that have antirevolutionary thoughts in these schools. On the other hand as a result of growing relations with the USA Democratic Party caused a great influence of the USA on the every level of Turkish educational system. The National Education Policy lost its independence and came under the influence of America.