National Holidays in Greek Multicultural School: Vies of Pre- Service Teachers
Abstract
In early childhood education pupils have the opportunity to come into first contact with the historical events and acquire the first historical knowledge. However, research has shown the existence of strong nationalist elements and the viewing of the nation as a homogeneous entity and an unchanged Hellenism. The Greek educational system does not take into account the cultural background of students coming from other countries. This issue is the reason for conducting this survey, which studied the views of prospective teachers on national celebrations, namely their role and content. Their views on speeches, on the reproduction of national identity, on national and political education and the institution of parades in the context of the multicultural school are also explored. The issue of research considers that prospective teachers agree with the conduct of national celebrations in multicultural schools, but in a way that should include other cultural groups as well. The sample of research consists of 120 students of the departments of primary and pre-school education in the Faculties of Education in Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli and the department of Early Childhood education in Thessaloniki (A.T.E.I.). According to the research results, the celebration of national holidays in schools should not be abolished as national holidays contribute to pupils learning about the history of the country and maintain historical memory. What should be done, however, is to change the way national holidays are presented in schools and the specific values they promote to pupils.
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