Influence of Schools on Economically Disadvantageous Attitudes: A Solomon Islands Study

Abstract

While there is recognition that attitudes affect national economic advance in developing countries, there is doubt whether schools can significantly influence attitudes and whether it is morally right for them to attempt to do so. This study examines the economically detrimental attitude of regionalism in a Solomon Islands secondary school and measures (by an extended sociogram technique which largely eliminates response set) changes in regionalism with exposure to a school experience which stressed regional integration. Significant decreases in regionalism were recorded. However, the author warns that factors other than school policy (e.g., the boarding element, parental support, and the fact that regionalism in society had not reached crisis proportions) may have been preconditions of the attitude change. It is doubtful if schools should be expected to change attitudes to suit political or economic ends.