Educational Faculty Members’ Perceptions on Multicultural Teacher

Abstract

This purpose of this study is to determine how the perceptions of teaching personnel members were conceptualized through use of metaphorical images with regard to the multicultural teacher. In this study, a phenomenological design, a type of qualitative research design was used. A total of 323 teaching personnel members employed at 71 educational faculties in Turkey participated voluntarily in the study. The data of the participants were analyzed using descriptive content analysis. The metaphors most used by the teaching personnel members were those of conductor, treasure chest of knowledge, Rumi, a restaurant chef, a gardener, a rainbow, a democrat, a prism and a guide. Whether one compares the Department of Educational Sciences with other departments or makes a comparison of the main subject areas within the Department of Educational Sciences, of all the themes produced, the perception seems to be shared that the multicultural teacher is able to synthesize the viewpoints of different cultures. These appeared to be no misunderstandings or misconceptions regarding the concept of the multicultural teacher with no distinction recorded between the Department of Educational Sciences and the main subject areas.