The Qualities of Teachers Who Instruct Peace Education: Views of Prospective Teachers’ Who Attended the Peace Education Programme

Abstract

The concept of peace can be described as the values including respecting features such as race, gender, religion, physical appearance, and age; appreciating diversities, unity, cooperation, tolerance and being fair. Related to this, the concept of peace education can be defined as an educational process during which peaceful problem-solving methods, instead of problem-solving methods based on violence and conflict, are taught to individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the qualities of teachers who instruct peace education depending on the prospective teachers’ view. The study was a qualitative descriptive research. The sample of this study was chosen with the homogenous sampling method. The sample of this study was chosen among the participants of the Peace Education Programme. The data was gathered with focus group interviews. The content analysis technique was used for data analysis. The results of the study showed that the participants learned the peace education conceptually. Prospective teachers emphasized that teachers who instruct peace education should have the conceptual and theoretical knowledge about peace education, should have the personal characteristics that support the peace and peace-making skills. Because of this, this study is important since it emphasizes choosing, training and improving teachers who instruct peace education.

Keywords: peace education, Peace Education Programme, prospective teachers