Research On Ideological And Political Course’s Function On The High School Students’ Political Socialization

Political socialization, as an important part of socialization, runs through a man’s life. So, in ahigh school student’s process of growing up, political socialization is what he must experience. Astudent’s political socialization can take place in his family and school, and it can also trigger by hispeers and mass media. However, for a high school student, the principal channel for his politicalsocialization is the course of Ideology and Politics. In this sense, a study on the role that the courseplays in the student’s political socialization is very promising and constructive.This study, taking the high school students in Lingtai,Gansu province, as a study target, adopts acombined research method of qualitative and quantitative. Specifically, a structural interview with10students, who are chosen at random, is carried out. Meanwhile, a survey of questionnaires to750students is conducted after classified sampling.At last, the study finds some conclusions as following:1. The political cognition of high school students is basically proper, but some important points inpolitics are in need to be enhanced. The political cognition is related to his grade and the educationbackground of his mother as well. The higher his grade is, the more proper his cognition is; so is thecase as his mother’s education background is concerned. Other elements, such as gender, major,political identity, do not matter significantly in a student’s political socialization.2. The approval on the state’s macro policies among the students is popular, but the local practicearouses their complaint. The students’ political sentiment is lofty while utilitarianism is prevailing too.The political sentiment is closely related with a student’s grade: the lower his grade is, the loftier hissentiment is. Other elements, such as gender, major, political identity, do not matter in this aspect.3. The students have strong will in participating, but their participation is active. It is found thatboys are more active than girls, those who have been members of cadre more active than the oneswho have not, the students who focus on liberal arts more active than majoring in science. The affectof grade, political identity, the education background and political identity of one’s parents is notsignificant.4. Ideological and political course for students of political awareness, political emotions, the roleof political participation descending order: political awareness, political participation, politicalemotions.5. The course of Ideology and Politics plays an insufficient part in the students’ politicalsocialization. Here are some factors that cause the insufficiency: the immature development mentallyand physically of the students, their poor political internalization, the lack of family education, thedepreciation of the course, the unscientific teaching methods and evaluation, and the affect of socialchange. The suggestions are: The education level of all citizens should be improved; The part thatfamily plays should be attached much importance in students’ political socialization; Theconstruction of the course of Ideology and Politics should be enhanced, and the course should remainits principal channel; All the concerned parts should work together in the student’s politicalsocialization.