High School Extracurricular Activities and Political Socialization

Abstract

High school extracurricular activities are a source of the informal status networks in American secondary schools. The status networks and the norms upon which they are based do not inculcate values which stress the intrinsic worth of edu cation. Extracurricular activities are also supposed to teach the attributes of good citizenship. This study found no direct relationship between participation in high school extracurricu lar activities and attitude toward politics. The teen-ager who participates feels more integrated into the informal high school status system, This feeling of integration is associated with social trust. The more socially trusting teen-agers have a more positive attitude toward politics. Teen-agers from work ing-class backgrounds participate least, but are most likely to see the informal status system as open. It was inferred that these students were insulated by a belief in equality of oppor tunity from a direct awareness of how the status system actually operates.

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