The Politics of Participation: The Association Between School Racial Composition and Civic Engagement Later in Life
Open Access
Author:
Edmondson, Sheryl-amber Beverly
Area of Honors:
Education and Public Policy
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Erica Frankenberg, Thesis Supervisor David Alexander Gamson, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
racial composition high school civic engagement vote volunteer
Abstract:
Civic engagement is a primary goal of education, the cornerstone of democracy; therefore inherently linked to diversity. In a nation experiencing multiculturalism and a resurgence of segregation simultaneously one might question how school racial context becomes the means to civic engagement. Researchers debate whether racial composition undermines or facilitates civic engagement, but there is consensus that it affects students’ access to civic education resources and sense of community and belonging. Using data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 and The Commission on Youth Voting and Civic Knowledge Youth Post-Election Survey, this study examines the association between school racial composition and a person's likelihood to engage in civic behavior later in life.
