Education is inextricably linked with politics; it is used as a means of indoctrination or liberation. Evaluators of educational programs are not neutral; choices are made of methods, objects of study, and potential uses of results. Evaluation tools should take these factors into consideration and focus on organizations rather than individuals in…

This essay describes the dimensions of political socialization with systematic political education as a major component. Both promote individual acceptance of political norms--particularly where government and school systems are tightly linked. The authors argue that political socialization should promote effective citizenship rather than simply…

This study of Israeli youths' attitudes toward the Arab-Israeli conflict found that youthful opinions stemmed not from a single, coherent attitude but instead were affected by specific issues. Religiosity was the clearest determining influence. The impact of the Holocaust and Zionism were too complex to be described by the methods used. (Author/AM)

Examines the relationship between ideology as a structuring device for political information and the use of television and newspapers as sources of that information. Discusses how ideological sophistication interacts with exposure to political information to produce political attitude holding and attitude structure. (JMF)

Analyzes the way in which schooling has traditionally been used in the United States to inculcate national identity and culture. The analysis is based on research about political socialization at different time periods and on widely used textbooks. Also discusses questions of indoctrination. (DB)

Argues that librarians need to become more politically-minded if they are to determine their future role in the "information age." Examples of political forces at work in information issues are given: national periodicals center, national library agency, Department of Education, bibliographic utilities and networks, private sector, and…

Presents steps that communities can take to use politics for the benefit of curriculum development. (Author/MLF)

Discusses the sociopolitical function of the school, shows how that is accomplished in the classroom, and explains that present practice supports student alienation. Recommends an alternative set of values and social processes for use in the social studies promoting equality, community, and humanistic social interaction. (CK)

Presents a theoretical model for the process of political learning in children and from this draws implications for practice in terms of a sequential curriculum framework. (SJL)

Suggests that the time has come to create new indicators of political efficacy (the feeling that an individual political action has an actual or potential impact on the political process). Shortcomings of existing indicators are pointed out and a new problem-solving efficacy scale is described. (DB)

Presents an overview of the most notable among recent books on political socialization in West Germany and indicates trends among these publications in areas of research methodology, objectives, stress on empirical studies, and theoretical models. (Author/DB)

Examines the relationship between industrial democracy and political education, with particular emphasis on the content and methodology of moral and political education, teacher education, and the organization of educational institutions. Journal available from Carfax Publishing Company, Haddon House, Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxford OX9 8JZ, England.…

Discusses analysis of the content of children's books to determine the extent to which main and secondary characters demonstrate active participation in politics and make realistic decisions. The purpose is to identify potential sources of political socialization and citizenship education. (Author/KC)

The feasibility of promoting the development of an egalitarian society via a hierarchically organized educational system is discussed. A model for curriculum management which emphasizes teacher and student participation in the decision-making process is presented as a method for making the schools of the West Indies more democratic. (Author/RLV)

Democratic Socialization is viewed from a cognitive developmental perspective in which hypothetico-deductive thinking and exposure to democratic models are seen as necessary, but not sufficient to development of democrative values. A taxonomy of democratic development is offered. (MS)