"Ubuntu" – Philosophy and Practice: An Examination of Xhosa Teachers' Psychological Sense of Community in Langa, South Africa

 
 
 
 

"Ubuntu" – Philosophy and Practice: An Examination of Xhosa Teachers' Psychological Sense of Community in Langa, South Africa

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dc.contributor.advisor Kubow, Dr. Patricia en_US
dc.contributor.author Collins-Warfield, Amy E. en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2009-04-09T22:51:36Z
dc.date.available 2009-04-09T22:51:36Z
dc.date.created 2008 en_US
dc.date.issued 2009-04-09T22:51:36Z
dc.identifier.uri http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1225405676 en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2374.OX/104474
dc.description A recent South African study estimated that nationwide, 20,000 teachers in primary and secondary schools leave the profession each year (Samodien, 2008). It is important to ascertain what factors contribute to teacher job satisfaction, in order to promote quality education in South African schools (Mwamwenda, 1995; Steyn and van Wyk, 1999) and end the teacher retention crisis. Psychological sense of community (PSOC) might contribute to job satisfaction for teachers in under-resourced schools in South Africa. Before the effects of PSOC on job satisfaction can be studied, teacher communities must first be studied to verify that PSOC exists in the South African context. Building on the literature about PSOC, teacher community, and urban Black South African schools, this thesis examines Xhosa teachers PSOC in Langa, South Africa, in the context of the indigenous African philosophy of ubuntu. Applying qualitative methodology in the form of interviews and observations, this study explains how two male and three female teachers at Sandile Primary School (a pseudonym) conceptualize their community, as well as how they incorporate ubuntu philosophy into their work lives. Utilizing McMillan and Chavis's (1986) theory of PSOC as a framework for analysis, this study examines the ways in which the participants construct and sustain their teacher community. This study concludes that a strong PSOC does exist among the teachers at Sandile. Additionally, the 5 participants feel very strongly about the relevance of ubuntu philosophy to their roles as educators, as they practice it in their everyday work lives. This thesis provides a foundation for future studies on the potential effects of PSOC on job satisfaction. en_US
dc.format application/pdf en_US
dc.format 128p. en_US
dc.rights unrestricted en_US
dc.rights Copyright and permissions information available at the source archive en_US
dc.subject Xhosa en_US
dc.subject teacher community en_US
dc.subject psychological sense of community en_US
dc.subject South Africa en_US
dc.subject Langa en_US
dc.subject ubuntu en_US
dc.subject PSOC en_US
dc.subject township en_US
dc.subject qualitative methodology en_US
dc.title "Ubuntu" – Philosophy and Practice: An Examination of Xhosa Teachers' Psychological Sense of Community in Langa, South Africa en_US
dc.type Electronic Thesis or Dissertation en_US
dc.degree.name MA en_US
dc.degree.level masters en_US
dc.degree.discipline Cross-Cultural, International Education en_US
dc.degree.grantor Bowling Green State University en_US
dc.contributor.publisher Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK en_US

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