Robert D. Hess

The Role of the Elementary School in Political Socialization

Formal programs of citizenship training have a long tradition in public schools in the United States. Typically, these programs have attempted to maximize interpersonal skills and moral qualities of the individual student and to improve his co-operation and participation in civic activities of the community. Such efforts at citizenship education have been conducted for the most part at the secondary-school and the college levels (1). Although formal instruction in subjects such as history, civics, and social studies are frequently offered as part of the elementary-school curriculum, these courses are more usually placed in the upper grades. There has been little emphasis on citizenship training during the early school years or on other aspects of the process of political socialization. From the beginning of the childs school career, however, the school teaches and reinforces attitudes toward law, government, and citizenship in a number of informal ways. Pledging allegiance to the flag, singing the national anthem, celebrating the birth of Washington and Lincoln, and observing Veterans Day are some of the most frequent occasions for teaching the young child respect for law and a feeling of national loyalty and pride. By such informal