The Dream School: Exploring Children's Views About Schools

Abstract

Children should have a say in matters that concern them such as the characteristics of their learning environments, and their imaginations can be used when designing these environments. This study aimed at revealing the dream school characteristics of children attending kindergarten classes and primary school, and was designed as a case study. The study group consisted of 5 to 10 years old children from three schools with different socio-economic status. In the data collection process, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the children about the characteristics of their dream school. In addition to this, they were requested to draw pictures of these schools and a second interview was held for these drawings. Findings showed that children had fantastic and creative dreams as well as dreams about the socio-emotional and physical environments of the schools. These findings were presented comparatively according to school level. Taking these findings into account, the characteristics of the dream school are important in terms of changing and transforming the ongoing school systems. This way, the basis for creating learning environments designed according to children’s interests and needs will be provided and the children will feel better and feel that they belong to these environments.