Poet Nabi as A Pedagogue in the Turkish Classical Literature

Abstract

A number of interesting studies are currently conducted on children’s literature and education. It is a known fact that there were studies in the past that dealt with children, though not directly with these two issues. It appears that early studies on these issues were of Western origin, especially the ones written by France and English writers were interesting. Although the studies on children in Turkish literature are not of long history, children have always had a prominent place in Turkish culture. In oral and written works, a number of authors, poets and educators have focused and written on children, though not in complete parallel with the contemporary perspective on children’s education. One of such figures is Nâbî, a poet who lived in the 17th century. Attaching importance to children’s education, Nâbî wrote Hayriyye.
With its focus on children’s education, the present paper presents an evaluation of the issue from past to present in reference to children’s education.