Stališča strokovnih delavcev do folklorne dejavnosti v osnovnih šolah s posebnim programom vzgoje in izobraževanja / Views of professionals regarding folklore activities in primary schools with a special education program

The paper examines the views of professionals in primary schools with a special education program in relation to folkloric activities and content. The research involved 240 professionals from all 28 Slovenian educational institutions implementing the program. Respondents rated their agreement on statements related to formal education and folklore activities, inclusion of folklore content and activities, attitudes towards folklore and classroom work, and use of folklore content for therapeutic purposes on a 5-point scale. The main findings relate to the fact that during institutional training, professionals did not acquire sufficient knowledge to teach folkloric content when working with students with special needs, suggesting that there are still many opportunities for progress in the integration of folkloric content and activities, with a focus on folk dances, folk songs, folk games and customs and habits, in institutions that implement the special education program of education. This is confirmed by the fact that the professionals have a very positive attitude towards folklore in general. The results can represent a starting point for future research, which would confirm the need for an interdisciplinary approach in different scientific fields (special and rehabilitation education, music didactics, folklore, ethnochoreology, music therapy, psychology and kinesiology).