Examination of Primary School Students' Perspectives on Values in Terms of Root Values

Within the scope of the correction made to he primary school curriculum through the update programs intiated in 2018 by the Ministry of National Education, where “core values” were especially emphasized. These root values included in the program are expressed as “justice, honesty, friendship, helpfulness, patience, respect, self-control, love, responsibility, patriotism”. In this study, primary school students’ perspectives on values are discussed in terms of “root values”. As a result of this study, which was prepared by using the phenomenological research design, one of the qualitative research methods; students describe the word value as cooperation, honesty and getting along. According to the participants, the most important value that people should have is benevolence, whereas their parents and teachers most want the students to acquire the value of responsibility. In addition, they stated that the students needed the value of patience the most, and they wanted to see the value of honesty in their friends. The participants emphasized that the most important value that the school instill in students is “being educated” and that people will be valuable thanks to patience and self-control. However, values of honesty, love and cooperation are expected to be found in their families the most. While teaching values to primary school students, these findings should definitely be taken into account.