The Primary School Students of 1950s' Yozgat: Our Memories about Our Primary School Education

The objective of the study is to lay bare the educational memories of primary school students in 1950s' Yozgat city which is in the center of Turkey. Memories that belong to education are also reflections of the individuals' past educational practices. Why they take part in lives of individuals as memories may let us see the importance of educational practices at schools. The method of the study is oral history which helps us see the hidden educational experiences of primary school students in the form of memories. The people chosen for the research group were reached by the snowball method. 22 interviews were actualized. Two of them were for testing. Unlike the real names of the interviewed people, the narratives of the graduates of the period were presented in their original form. Different narratives which are exclusive due to their originalities take place in the memories of the students of period. There are also memories which cover their experiences out of school as well. Being beaten, enjoyed by their teachers, their educational practices, playing games, looking after their animals or cattle and poverty are some of the practices which appear in their memories. The memories are considerably significant not only for the educational practices at school but also for the history of children and educational institutions.