Citizenship Education in Five Massachusetts High Schools

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of different kinds of school management techniques on the development of political attitudes among students. To accomplish these objectives, the author conducted interviews with students, social studies teachers, and administrators at five schools, and distributed questionnaires to students at each school. The hypothesis tested is that students in schools which encourage student participation in decision-making will reflect higher levels of political interest, political trust, social integration, and political confidence than will students from more authoritarian schools. The hypothesis was confirmed for political trust and confidence, but not for the other variables.