• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-85
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• 2018

Objective: The goal of this study is to examine child care center teachers'awareness of parents through a metaphor analysis. Methods: Metaphorical expressions and reason-statements were collected from 276 teachers. Metaphor analysis was used through categorizing and assorting by meanings. Results: The teachers' metaphorical image expressions of parents were analyzed by using 13 metaphorical expression words and 3 categories which included, influence on teacher's attitudes, parent-teacher relationships, and parents' attitudes. Metaphorical image expressions that had a high ratio were 'a companion' and 'a client.' First, child care center teachers had images of parents that parents provide courageous energy to them, and images of clients who demand service instead of being parents. Second, child care center teachers had images of parents that parents cooperate with teachers for the sake of their children. Third, child care teachers had images of parents that parents need help with their children. Conclusion/Implications: This study suggests that teachers will be able to positively correct their awareness of cooperative parent-teacher relationships by reviewing their metaphorical expressions of parental images.