Views of teachers who give social studies course to 4th and 5th graders on the acquisition of values in social studies course curriculum

The purpose of this study is determining the 4. and 5. grade primary school teachers? views about regarding the process of the values in social studies teaching program.The present study is a qualitative research that used scanning model. Working group of the study is 13 primary schools in central province of Kütahya and 4. and 5. grade primary teachers, selected through maximum diversity sampling teachers comprise 22 participants in 2008-2009 academic year.The data were obtained through interview forms with 22 participant teachers, face to face interviews in the study. Content analysis and descriptive analysis approach were used in the analysis of the data.It was concluded that the participant teachers describe the values as adopting by society, giving direction to behaviour and life, defining important elements in growing well-trained citizens from the analysis of data. Most of the participant teachers also approve that the values have to be placed in the teaching program whereas create a solid personality structure for students, prepare them for the future, and prevent the corruption of the values etc. The participant teachers identify their role as a role model and represent that the most effective institution is the family beside themselves. Most of the teachers endorse that teaching through the values associated with the learning fields because this organizes the process and cause the permanent learning. The conflict of the value given in school and the value given at home and given in the media, the teachers? inadequate information about teaching program are the conditions that make the learning difficult. None of the participant teachers are enlightened about the values and teaching of the values. The participant teachers indicate that they use the methods such as role-playing, drama and brainstorming in teaching the values. However, almost all of the participant teachers occurred that they do not use any of the value teaching approaches such as the value analysis, explanation of the value and they do not have any idea about these. The participant teachers think that the students should internalize the values and act appropriate for the values. For this purpose, they think that the family and the environment should encourage the values and the students should see the importance of the values.