An investigation of early childhood education teachers\u2019 attitudes, behaviors, and views regarding the rights of the child

Cagla Banko-Bal,Tulin Guler-Yildiz

doi:10.1186/s40723-021-00083-9

Cagla Banko-Bal, Tulin Guler-Yildiz

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40723-021-00083-9

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Abstract

This study investigates the attitudes, behaviors, and views about the rights of the child of early childhood education (ECE) teachers in Turkey. A mixed-method sequential transformative design was used, and 205 ECE teachers’ attitudes towards children’s rights were analyzed using a quantitative questionnaire. Ten of these ECE teachers were then observed, and their views in terms of the rights of children were elicited through interviews. According to the findings, teachers’ attitudes toward the rights of the child were positive; however, their behaviors and views were not compatible with most of these rights. While teachers were sensitive to the right to protection, they did not meet the requirements of the rights to development, growth, and participation or the principles of best interest and non-discrimination. Educating teachers about the rights of the child plays an important role in enhancing children’s learning and the application of these rights. To support these rights, teachers need to properly understand the rights of the child, how to protect them, and how to reflect these rights in their practices.

Highlights

It is important to realize that children’s learning affects the future of society as well as children’s individual lives
Children need to be aware of their responsibilities and their rights as citizens, which only happens when children know their rights as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Howe & Covell, 2005)
There were no meaningful differences in attitudes toward the rights of children in terms of school type (U = 4625; p > 0.05) or taking a course related to the rights of children (U = 4405.5; p > 0.05) (Table 8)

Summary

Introduction

It is important to realize that children’s learning affects the future of society as well as children’s individual lives. The welfare of a society depends on it using all facilities to raise and develop healthy children for whom society is responsible (Akyuz, 2000; Ucus, 2014). Children recognizing and using their rights is important for society because protecting and developing children’s personalities and abilities requires protecting the rights of the child in all environments, especially at home and school (Ucus, 2014). Children need to be aware of their responsibilities and their rights as citizens, which only happens when children know their rights as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Howe & Covell, 2005). The UNCRC is an international agreement accepted by 191 states in 1989. It protects the rights of children and provides a child-centered framework for the services related to children’s development.

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