A Qualitative Content Analysis of Samad Behrangi's Stories to Extract Educational-Critical Themes

One of the most important issues in education is selection of appropriate content which can help meet the educational goals. Each story has a specific form and content which can contribute to the fulfillment of educational goals. Critical awareness is one of the most fundamental aims of formal education and Samad Behrangi is of one of the leading authors of children’s stories who focuses on this theme. Hence, in the present study a qualitative content analysis of Behrangi’s stories was carried out based on such themes as the condition of classes, social oppression, promotion of critical awareness, collective actions, and critique of unjustified beliefs. In addition, the possibility of extracting educational-critical themes from Behrangi’s stories was probed based on Israel Scheffler’s criteria, i.e., intentionality, rationality, and manner. There are opponents and proponents of the use of Behrangi’s stories for educational purposes. According to the findings of the present study a moderate view is recommended in which certain aspects of the stories such as inculcating themes, overt and covert layers of aggression, exaggerating class divides, and inadequacy of reasoning-centered dialogues should be moderated and modified.