Turkey Teachers Union: Its Organizational Structure and Activities (1921-1936)

The Federation of Unions of Male and Female Teachers (Türkiye Muallime ve Muallimler Dernekleri Birli？i) was established on 7 May, 1921. It held its first general assembly in 1924 and decided to gather all teacher associations in the country under a single roof, consequently changed its name to Turkey Teachers Union (Türkiye Muallimler Birli？i). The main aim of the Union was to provide cooperation and solidarity among teachers, and to inform the people on the reforms of the new Republic. After completing its organization, the Union functioned in accordance with the aims mentioned above and held general assemblies in 1924, 1925, 1926 and 1928. The Assembly of 1928 is significant for the history of the Union as the regulation of Turkey Teachers Union was changed and the Union turned into a confederation after this congress. As a result, it got the name Turkish Republic-Federation of Teachers Unions (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Muallimler Birlikleri Federasyonu) and started to be administered by a trustee. Later on, independently working teacher unions also emerged. The most remarkable of these was ？stanbul centered ？stanbul Teachers Union (？stanbul Muallimler Birli？i). It had been active until 1936. However, due to the politics of the government, the Union had to abolish itself in 1935-1936 academic year