From the era of reform to the republican period: The development of science education in primary schools and an analysis of course books used in this period with respect to educational and visual design

Current work makes an attempt to determine the characteristics of the development process of science education in primary schools between the Reform and Republican periods. Centered around the science courses, significant developments and documents with respect to the history of education were examined. Related legal regulations, laws, instructions, syllabi, course books and children's magazines that are used for education, were analyzed for the same purpose. The article presents 36 course books prepared to be used in primary schools during the period and offers general information on these books. Among these books are the science course books of Fuad Munir, Ebul Muhsin Kemal and Sati Beg, confirmed to be used in primary schools, which were analyzed regarding their physical visual and educational designs through the original documents at first hand. The books were evaluated under 15 subtitles that are created in accordance with the required physical characteristics of course books. Despite various shortages, the books were observed to have physical characteristics that can be considered 'good' when the conditions of the period are taken into account. The books were also reviewed with respect to content, and the subjects included in the course books were compared with the subjects on the syllabi in order to find if the course books corresponded to the educational program of the period. As a result, all the mentioned books, except Durüs-i Eşya science courses of Sati Beg, were observed to comply with the course syllabi. Thematic illustrations were also observed in the analyzed books where some of these illustrations were properly printed and others contained various problems depending on the quality of the preferred paper and ink material as well as the printing method. When the conditions of the period are taken into consideration, it can be said that the illustrations found in the books would attract the students' attention, offer concrete examples and help them grasp the subject.