The Values of Estonian Preschool Childcare Institutions’ Principals, Teachers, and Parents

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to find out, what the values of Estonian preschool childcare institutions' principals, teachers, and parents. The Estonian language version of the Portrait Value Questionnaire, developed by S. H. Schwartz, was used as a research method. Altogether 978 respondents from all over Estonia participated in the study, including 163 preschool childcare institutions' principals, 425 teachers and 390 parents. The values of preschool principals, teachers, and parents were rather similar. In all groups, the highest evaluations were assigned to values related to benevolence (both caring and dependability) and the lowest to power (both dominance and resources). The results indicated that principals, compared to teachers, valued higher dominance and tolerance, while teachers gave higher evaluations to personal security and conforming to rules. Compared to principals and teachers, parents gave significantly higher evaluations to resources. Also, parents valued dominance higher than teachers and hedonism more than principals.

Values and Values Education in Estonian Preschool Child Care Institutions

“…Part A included the Estonian version of Schwartzís Portrait Values Questionnaire , which helped to find out the personal values of principals, teachers, and parents from Estonian preschool child care institutions (‹lavere & Veisson, 2015). Part B included a semi-structured questionnaire about the activities of values education in preschool child care institutions.…”

“…The personal values of principals, teachers and parents of preschool child care institutions were ascertained according to Schwartzís Portrait Values Questionnaire (‹lavere & Veisson, 2015). This article provided an insight into those values that principals, teachers and parents of preschool child care institutions consider important to be taught to children, and through which activities values education is implemented in preschool child care institutions.…”

The Views of Preschool Pre-service Teachers, In-service Teachers and Parents on Pre-School Education of Values

“…Less important values at school were the so-called soft values, such as interpersonal relations, helpfulness, caring, and tolerance. Principals, on the other hand, considered such soft values more important and academic success less important (Ulavere and Veisson, 2015b).…”