Browsing by Subject "päivähoidon valinta"

A Choice of Waldorf Kindergarten, Good Upbringing and Values is a qualitative case study about early educational views and values of Waldorf parents (N=23). Good upbringing means in this case upbringing into goodness and passing on something of value. Values mean things that people value as important, that are desirable and that guides one's choices. The study was meant to describe, explain and understand reasoning behind the choices of daycare, good upbringing and values derived from those. Also this research tried to find out whether Tapio Aaltonen's tool for unveiling values is an applicable instrument in scientific study and which kind of results can be obtained with it. Research materials were comprised of modified Aaltonen's question form and both record and written information of group conversations by the parents (n=12). An analyse was made by a data-based and a theory-directed content analysis. The issue is related to current value process in this particular unit and also in national curriculum frame work of Waldorf Pedagogy. This study is reckoned as the science of descriptive ethics, which is based on moral values and norms of empirical research. The study was approached partly from a view of social sciences and philosophical ethics, more specifically from a view of axiology (=value theory) and partly leaning towards Waldorf pedagogy. Value theoretical frame of reference was based on Schwartz' and Aaltonen & Junkkari's models for values. Waldorf pedagogy was examined for Steiners concept of ethical individualism and three prerequisite of human growth, which are understanding humanity, love and will power. Parents most important criteria in selecting day care were associated with nature, environment and peaceful rhythm. It was emhasized in the answers that waldorf kindergarten is seen as natural, humane in individualism and communality and as a place where a true childhood is cherished – childhood should be protected so that children have time, possibility and peace to grow up with one's own pace towards one's essence. Selecting Waldorf day care is adapted from typical features of Waldorf early education and western romantics of natural philosophy. In upbringing parents valued most truthfulness, tenderness , love, individualism and communality. These values can be seen more as a part of Waldorf pedagogy and Steiner's 1919 curriculum than as of Finnish curriculum in early education. Parents most important values were, truthfulness, dignity, individualism, nature, freedom and communality. In general parents upbringing values are similar as in Western-European countries that value openness to change and self-enhancement. In the results there is an exception concerning security which is one of the conservative values and crucial in early education. Based on the results in this study the research tools can be concluded to serve the purpose of revealing upbringing values of parents. Aaltonen's value-tool is applicable, not only for subjective value evaluations, but also for scientific data gathering, in this context in qualitative case study.