The examination of the elements of content about the concepts "republic" and "democracy" in social studies course in the 5th and 6th grade primary instruction in terms of some variables

In this research, it is aimed at identifying the teachers? opinions about the concepts ?republic? and ?democracy? found in the coursebook, their opinions about in what level these concepts are found and how they are involved in the coursebook, how teachers and their colleagues teach these concepts and the suggestions about teaching these concepts while teaching in the 5th and 6th grade Instruction Programme about the Social Studies course which is put into practice nationally in the 2007/2008 Education and Instruction year. The research consists of five parts: introduction, theoretical explanations and related research, findings and comments, results and suggestions.The study is a figurative scanning model. The working group of the research has been chosen from primary schools of Ministry of Education in Adana/Seyhan and Adana/Yüreğir by means of random sample method. 110 5th grade teachers in 34 primary schools and 72 social studies teachers in 37 schools out of 40 primary schools which constitute the sample have filled in the survey voluntarily.In the research ?Personal Information Form? and ?Teacher Survey Form? designed by the researcher have been used as a data collection tools. The data gathered at the end of the research have been analyzed with SPSS programme. According to the aims of the study, figurative statistics like frequency and percent have been used. In order to find out the meaningful difference between the opinions of primary school teachers and social studies teachers kay kare test has been used which is nonparametric. 104 pages written texts have been gathered from the answers supplied by the teachers.The findings of the research can be summarized as follows:Teachers have stated that the aim of teaching the concept of ?republic? for students mostly in Social Studies course is ?to gain affective behaviours about republic and display them?. Teachers have also stated that the aim of teaching the concept of ?democracy? in Social Studies is ?to operate the basic rights and freedom of individual and to protect them?.Teachers of social studies have found the ?republic? and ?democracy? concepts more adequate than primary school teachers.Teachers of social studies have found their class presentation contents about the ?republic? and ?democracy? more adequate than primary school teachers.Teachers have stated that in definition and basic characteristics about the concept ?republic? they teach and suggest to teach in the lesson they lay more emphasize on one of the distinguishing characteristics of republic ?assignment of government administrators by election? than holding elections by designated intervals.Primary school teachers have stated that they mostly give examples to their students about the concept ?republic? considering the ?elections held in the school and class?. However, Social Studies teachers have stated that they mostly give examples about the ?election of government administrators?. Teachers have stated that it should be mostly paid attention to the ?learning-teaching? about the examples given about the concept of ?republic?.Teachers have stated that the concept ?republic? is closely related with the concepts found in the category of ?the principles and reforms of Atatürk and the concepts related with these?. Teachers have stated that the concept of ?democracy? is mostly related with the concepts found in the category of ?the concepts related with the basic rights and freedom?.Teachers have stated that in definition and basic characteristics about the concept ?democracy? they teach and suggest to teach in the lesson they lay more emphasize on one of the distinguishing characteristics of democracy ?securing the human rights?, but they have not included the quality of ?the chance of more than one political parties to come to power? in their answers. The other qualities have been stated by few teachers.Teachers have stated that they mostly give examples to their students in the course about the concept ?democracy? considering the ?elections held in the class and school?. Teachers stated that it should be mostly paid attention to the ?learning and teaching principles? about the examples given about the concept of ?democracy?.Teachers have mostly stated opinions about the ?taking part of the concept of republic in the coursebook? and opinions and suggestions about the concept of ?democracy? in terms of ?displaying democratic behaviours?.