Relationship between teachers' philosophical beliefs about education and their perceptions of school climate

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between teachers' educational beliefs and their perceptions about school climate. The study was designed as a correlational survey model. The sample included 357 teachers working in the central districts of Van province in 2019-2020 academic year. "Educational Beliefs Scale" and "School Climate Scale" were used as data collection tools. Correlational and regression analyses were carried out to explore the relationships among the study variables. According to the results, teachers' beliefs about contemporary philosophical approaches were strong. In terms of teachers' perceptions of school climate, all scores were close to each other, but higher scores were found in directive and supportive school climates. Results concerning the relationship between education beliefs and school climate showed that teachers having progressivist and existentialist education beliefs saw their schools as more supportive and directive while teachers having a reconstructionist educational philosophy perceived their schools as more directive and restrictive. Teachers adopting a perennialist educational belief interestingly described their schools as more supportive, directive and intimate. As expected, teachers who follow essentialist beliefs in education regarded their schools as more restrictive in terms of climate. The results of the study indicated that teachers' philosophical beliefs about education were, although at a low level, a significant predictor of their perception of school climate.