The Role of Social Studies Teachers in Promoting National Values and a Culture of Dialogue Among Their Students from Teachers’ Perspectives

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the role of social studies teachers in promoting national values and a culture of dialogue among their students from the teachers’ perspectives. The study adopted the descriptive–analytical approach for data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as it is appropriate for this type of research.

The study population consisted of social studies teachers at the secondary school level in Babil Governorate, Iraq, numbering (520) teachers according to the statistical card for the academic year (2023–2024). The study sample comprised (104) social studies teachers from the center of Babil Governorate within the General Directorate of Education in Babil, representing (20%) of the statistical population. The sample was selected randomly after the researcher was provided with teachers’ phone numbers through a visit to the Educational Statistics Unit at the General Directorate, based on an official letter from the Director General of Education in Babil Governorate.

To collect the study data and explore the views of the sample members, the instrument (questionnaire) was developed through reviewing educational literature and previous Arab and foreign studies and research. The instrument consisted of two domains: the first represented national values, and the second represented educational dialogue that should be promoted by social studies teachers. In its initial form, the instrument included (41) items.

After completing the initial version of the questionnaire, and to ensure that it measured the purpose for which it was designed, it was presented to a panel of experts from Iraqi university faculty members with relevant experience and specialization, numbering (16) experts. Based on their recommendations, items that did not obtain (80%) agreement from the experts were deleted, resulting in a final version consisting of (38) items. The instrument was then administered to a pilot sample of (40) secondary school teachers in Babil Governorate.

The reliability of the instrument was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to measure internal consistency among the items, which reached (0.92), indicating a high and acceptable level of reliability, as reliability increases the closer the coefficient is to one.

The data were entered into the computer and statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The researcher recommended a set of recommendations, including:

1.Activating the role of educational, national, social, religious, and media institutions as a means of connection with society.

The researcher also proposed a number of suggestions, including:

1.The necessity for the Ministry of Education to hold training courses for social studies teachers and teachers of other specializations on how to promote national values and a culture of dialogue among teachers and students at the secondary school level.