A study of pedagogical and ethical themes in Ottoman children's periodicals (1898-1908)

Our study extensively addresses the subject of child upbringing and morality in the Ottoman Empire. Rather than formal education, the issue of discipline and ethics concerning children has been explored through periodic publications. The issues of 'Çocuk Bahçesi,' 'Çocuklara Rehber,' 'Çocuklara Mahsus Gazete,' and 'Hanımlara Mahsus Gazete' magazines published between 1898-1908 have been examined. The research investigates the elements of discipline utilized in education through the texts obtained from these magazines. Consequently, within the defined period, Ottoman families have been studied based on the texts from the magazines, emphasizing child upbringing practices within the family. Furthermore, the evolution of the definition of discipline from the past to the present has been presented, highlighting how the concept has changed over each century and explaining the transformations in this field. Information about the responsible individuals for discipline education is provided, emphasizing their significance. In this context, the roles of parents are initially emphasized, followed by the contributions of nurses, nannies, private tutors, and subsequently the activities of elementary schools (sıbyan mektebi). Finally, our thesis focuses on reward and punishment methods applied to children within the family, intra-family communication, children's reading-related activities, discipline in the light of scientific knowledge, the training of emotions and ethics, and games, riddles, and puzzles.