Examinating the factors affecting classroom tecahers' job satisfaction

Teaching is a profession, but it is a basic profession which educates the people in all professions including itself. Of course, a satisfied teacher raises a satisfied society. In this context, classroom teachers have an unforgettable place on students' educational lives especially thanks to literacy education. The happiness of classroom teachers direclty afftects their own life satisfactions and their students' academic, social success. So this resarch is organized in order to examine the factors affecting the job happiness of the classroom teachers. In this study which is organized according to qualitative research method, phenomenological design is used. 12 classroom teachers selected by purposeful sampling method, constitute the working group. The data have been obtained from the participants by using a semi-structured interview technique. 7 open-ended questions and also drilling questions have been adressed to the teachers in their natural environment. The obtained data have been analyzed by descriptive analysis method. Participants have described the job satisfaction as using these concepts "seeing the students' bringing up, loved working environment, teacher colleagues, loving children, parents, loving the job, school administrators, social and economic opportunities, personal rights and economy and team spirit". As a result of the study, it is found that the individual factors coded as "professional perception, personal characteristics, socio-cultural environment" affect the job happiness of classroom teachers. In addition, organizational factors that are divided into sub-themes such as "education system, parents, administrative system, students, colleagues, school administrators, school, development and promotion opportunities, educational equipments" have been effective on their job happiness. Within the scope of the reseach, the suggestions of the participants related to solving the existing problems of the classroom teachers and increasing their job happiness have taken place. These are presented by dividing into themes such as "educational support services and recommendations, personal advice, professional advice, other advice". This study is important in terms of obtaining the data from the source itself, shedding light on the existing problems and giving solution offers. In this respect, it is thought that the findings obtained in this study may be a guiding light for future studies.