Analysis of the production under the curriculum of Girls' Technical Schools in the context of modernization of (Turkish) Republic (1945-1975)

In the early (Turkish) Republic period, the idea of the founders of (Turkish) Republic is "to achieve the level of contemporary civilizations" as westernization and modernization project has great importance for Turkey. During this period, education which took a very important role, developed according to the possible opportunities. Moreover, in this context very important duties and responsibilities are assumed to women. In the study, the productions of Girls' Technical Schools were examined within the period from 1945 to 1975. The main reason for this, after the years of 1940s with second world war, in terms of the development of the country, vocational and technical education had been given importance. With the establishment of Turkish Republic, the government started dealing with the circumstance of vocational and technical education systemically. In addition, within this context the idea to make Girls' Technical Schools widespread was proposed. In the basis of the study, girls' technical education was oriented with the inclusion of women into production is discussed. Moreover, Girls' Technical Schools are analyzed in terms of organizational processes, educational programs and productions. The productions made under the Curriculum of Girls' Technical Schools constitute the basic research subject of the thesis. Moreover, the meaning of "rational production" concept in the Republican Period and its place in the curriculum has been studied. Furthermore, a great variety of productions were created in the Girls' Technical Schools inspired by traditional Turkish handicrafts and traditional Turkish clothing. In the thesis, the productions of embroidery, cut-stitch, fashion-flower, painting and furniture lessons which were created through the studies of "modernization" and "stylization" of motifs which were used in traditional Turkish handicrafts and traditional Turkish clothing examined through the selected works. These productions are scrutinised and linked together in the context of modernization of (Turkish) Republic. In addition, the meaning of the "exhibition" and "fashion show" concepts in Girls' Technical Schools is discussed on the basis of exhibitions and fashion shows which are held in and out of the country and the functions of exhibitions are interpreted as well. Additionally the order and progress ateliers which have been founded for the productions of schools and their economic contributions are analysed. In this study, Girls' Technical Schools are discussed in terms of organizational processes, educational programs and productions. The method of this study is qualitative research and the method of fundamental data collection is based on document analysis. Essays, critiques, news and advertisements that take place in the periodicals and newspapers, formal documents and literary texts in the period of this study constitute the printed document of this research. In this study process; after collecting visual and printed data, the conclusions are figured out by descriptive data analysis and interpretation. In the first section of this study, aim, scope and method of the research is explained. Moreover, the importance of the subject "the production under the curriculum of Girls' Technical Schools" is explicated within the scope of the research. In the second section of this study, the change of social roles of women in education, employment, law, politics and social areas are discussed. Moreover, within the context of the modernization project of the Republic, reflections of the significant steps over the women taken by Republican administration are stated. In the third section of this study, the subject of "rational production" in the Republic period is discussed through the concepts of "woman in the context of rational production" and "hygiene and growing healthy generation in the context of rational production". In the fourth section of this study, Girls' Technical Education is examined in the Pre-Republican Period and Early Republic Period. Girls' Technical Education in the Early Republic Period consisted of Secondary Schools for Girls, Girls' Institutes, Evening Trade Schools for Girls, Girls' Technical Teacher Training Schools, Travelling Courses for Village Women and Institutes of Maturity (Further Training Institute for Girls). Furthermore, the distribution of the educational buildings in the country is pointed out. In addition, the functions of vocational and technical education in Girls' Technical Schools are interpreted. Additionally, the curriculum of Girls' Technical Schools is investigated with regards to productions. In the fifth section of this study, the productions, exhibitions and fashion shows of Girls' Technical Schools are studied. Furthermore, the creation of productions in the Girls' Technical Schools was inspired by traditional Turkish handicrafts and traditional Turkish clothing is examined through the selected works. Moreover, in this section, Kadın-Ev (Woman-Home) periodicals which were published between 1943 and 1944 and Mesleki ve Teknik Öğretim (Vocational and Technical Education) periodicals which were published between 1953 and 1970 are benefited from so as to exemplify productions and exhibitions of Girls' Technical Schools. In addition, the meaning of the "exhibition" and "fashion show" concepts in Girls' Technical Schools is discussed on the basis of exhibitions and fashion shows which are held in the country and abroad and the functions of exhibitions are interpreted as well. Additionally, founded ateliers for the productions of schools and the economic contributions of these ateliers are analysed. In the sixth section of this study which constitutes the conclusion of this study, the research findings are synthesized together by taking into consideration the contact patterns and they are evaluated generally in accordance with the aims of this thesis. The daily life outcomes of the productions under the Curriculum of Girls' Technical Schools in relation with perfoming the modernization project of Republic are discussed. Thesis study sets ground for future studies related to the productions of Girls' Technical Schools which were founded in parallel with the modernization of (Turkish) Republic.