Abstract:

Education is an indispensable right and necessity for each individual. Therefore, the special training work carried out in order to meet the educational needs of people with special needs is continuously kept up to date on national and international educational platforms. The improvement of quality in special education, the integrity in theory and practice, teachers and teachers training is in the forefront. In this context, this study, which aims to reveal the metaphoric perceptions of the teachers regarding special education, is carried out with the methodology of quality research techniques. The sample of the study consists of a total of 70 class teachers who teach in schools in the center of the province of Amasya in the 2015-2016 educational year. In the study, the "Special Training Structured Interview Form" was used as a tool for data collection organized by researchers and composed of two parts. The data is analyzed using the content analysis technique. In the findings obtained, metaphors that reveal the perceptions of teachers about special education were gathered under categories. The metaphors created in relation to special education have been collected under a total of 6 categories, including home, need, plant, absence, treatment, education, craftsmanship, a way of life and guidance, the metaphors related to children who need special education in 9 categories: art, absence, plant, potential owner and unusual and necessary. In light of the findings obtained, the teachers’ perceptions of special education were generally positive and they identified their special education with their professions. In the study, the preparation of service-in-service programs related to special education in order to increase the level of awareness of class teachers about special education was also recommended to increase the hours of classes related to special education during the teaching course and to organize activities aimed at implementation.

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