Özet:

This research aims to reveal the reputation of the teaching profession in line with the opinions of teachers. The research is designed according to the descriptive phenomenological pattern, which is a type of qualitative research approach. A total of 50 primary school and branch teachers from Ankara, Hatay, Denizli, Malatya, Erzurum, Erzincan, Kocaeli and Ordu provinces constitute the study group of the research. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and content analysis techniques. In accordance with the analysis of the results, the main themes of respectability factors of a profession, social reputation of the teaching profession, reputation providers to the teaching profession, reputation enhancers of the teaching profession were formed respectively. As a result of the research, it was determined that the reputation of the teaching profession is low in the public and that the most important factors determining the high reputation of the profession are the society's perspective on this profession and the value it attaches to the profession. Also, among the reasons for low reputation of the teaching profession are the economic inability, insufficiency of personal rights, politicians with wrong attitude , the negative news in the media, professional unions acting more politically, the lack of unity in terms of teachers’ rights. The unions must act jointly in order to increase the reputation of the teaching profession. The Ministry of Education, on the other hand, should develop policies that improve the personal, social and economic rights of teachers.

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