Core Values in Education

Summary of Gökçe (2021)

Background & Existing Knowledge

Values are the criteria by which individuals judge ideas and actions. A core set of values is essential for both educators and students, but there is a need to understand what these core values should be and how they are perceived by preservice teachers.

New Insights from This Study

✔ This study examined the core values that preservice teachers believe educators and students should have.

✔ Using a questionnaire with open-ended questions, the study analyzed the perceptions of 263 preservice teachers.

✔ Findings revealed a total of 17 values for teachers, 21 for school principals, and 20 for students, which were categorized into moral, professional, and cultural values.

Practical Applications: How Educators Can Use This Research

Course Design

📌 Integrate the identified core values into the curriculum for teacher preparation programs.

📌 Design school-wide programs and activities that explicitly teach and promote the core values that students should acquire.

Evaluation Tools

📌 Develop self-assessment tools for preservice teachers to reflect on their own values.

📌 Use rubrics to evaluate students' demonstration of core values in their daily interactions.

Instructional Support

📌 Use the findings to inform professional development sessions for both current and future educators on the importance of values education.

📌 Provide practical strategies for teachers to model the core values they are expected to embody.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the core values that are considered essential for educators and students, offering a valuable resource for shaping the future of education through intentional and values-driven approaches.

Key Words

Core values, Preservice teachers, Values education, Professional values, Cultural values

Reference

Gökçe, A. T. (2021). Core Values in Education From the Perspective of Future Educators. SAGE Open, 11(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211014485

Suggested Citation

Ross, E. M., & Malar, D. B. J. (2025). Core Values in Education. Excellent Educator, 2(17), 6.