The examination of the views of primary school teachers and pre-service primary teachers on European Union citizenship from the point of different variables

The aim of this study is to determine the view of primary school teachers and pre-service primary teachers on European Union citizenship. This study is a descriptive research in survey model. It is also both qualitative and quantitative research. The quantitative data of the research was collected from 207 primary school teachers teaching in 22 primary school in the city center of Kırşehir and 282 pre-service primary teachers studying in Ahi Evran University, Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education. On the other hand, 25 teachers and 33 pre-service teachers from the sample group, who were voluntary, were used to collect the qualitative data of the research. As the data collection tool, two different Personal Information Forms for teachers and pre-service teachers, Interview Form and View on European Union Citizenship Questionnaire were used. Arithmetic Mean, standard deviation (sd), independent samples t-test, factor analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe test were applied to the data collected from teachers and pre-service teachers. The level of p<0.05 were accepted adequate for significance. At the end of the research, it was found that in comparison to pre-service primary teachers, primary school teachers evaluated EU citizenships as more active citizens. Also, it was determined that both primary school teachers and primary school teachers were indecisive about whether or not EU citizens included socio-cultural negativeness, however teachers were closer to the idea that they include these negativenesses. Besides, it was seen that both primary school teachers and pre-service primary teachers thought that EU citizens were individually developed in terms of economy and they had awareness in point of rights and responsibilities. According to the results of the research, it was suggested that student and teacher exchange programs should be earnestly applied and conference, panel, symposium etc. about EU should be organized. Therefore, teachers and pre-service teachers can know EU better and the prejudices of Turkish and European people for each other can be overcome.