An Analysis of School Culture from the Symbolic Perspective: An Ethnographic Study

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine symbols and meanings that interpreted by individuals living within the culture of a school while they’re acting. The data of the study that was designed in ethnographic way was collected through observation, interviews, field notes and documents from the principal, teachers, students, security guard, a member of parent teacher association and graduate students in a school located in Eskişehir. Five categories towards school culture were obtained from analyzing of the symbols. These categories were defined as “success is the development of individuals in accordance with their interests and abilities; we are a family; school principal is the initiator and manager of change; individual must be controlled and disciplined; the sources of the conflict are power and the differences.” Some suggestions were presented to practitioners and researchers in the context of results obtained from the study.