The Effect of the Weekly Reader on Children'S Knowledge of Current Events

Abstract

Analyses of data drawn from 2,331 urban and suburban elementary students ages 8 to 12 in Chicago, Houston, Boston, and San Francisco suggest that children who have higher reading levels and greater exposure to current events through communication media (television, newspapers, newsmagazines, discussions) have more knowledge and greater understanding of current events within classrooms, as measured by a 29-item current events knowledge test. Children in lower elementary classrooms (Grades 2 and 3) with the Weekly Reader periodical present appeared to have higher levels of current events knowledge, even after controlling for key classroom variables. The effect of the Weekly Reader is less for children in upper elementary classrooms (Grades 4 through 6) because they tend to receive more current events information from other communication materials.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Anderman, E. M., and J. Johnston. 1994a. Achievement goals and current events knowledge. ERIC Document, ED 381 451.

Anderman, E. M., and J. Johnston. 1994b. Motivational influences on adolescents'current events knowledge. ERIC Document, ED 381 420.

Andrain, C. F . 1971. Children and civic awareness. Columbus, OH: Merrill.

Atkin, C. , and W. Gantz . 1978. Television news and political socialization. Public Opinion Quarterly, pp. 183-198.

Bryk, A. S. , and S. W. Raudenbush . 1992. Hierarchical linear models: Applications and data analysis methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Chaffee, S. , L. Ward , and L. Tipton . 1970. Mass communication and political socialization. Journalism Quarterly 47 (winter): 647-659.

Cobb, C. J. 1986. Patterns of newspaper readership among teenagers. Communication Research 13 (2): 299-326.

Comstock, G. , and H. Paik . 1991. Television and the American child. New York: Academic Press.

Conway, M. M. , A. J. Stevens , and R. Smith . 1975. The relation between media use and children's civic awareness. Journalism Quarterly 52:531-538.

10.

Drew, D. G. , and B. Reeves . 1980. Children and television news. Journalism Quarterly 57:45-54, 114.

11.

Earle, D. 1982. Current events should be taught in primary classrooms. Social Education 46 (1):27-28.

12.

Ehman, L. 1980. The American school in the political socialization process. Review of Educational Research 50:99-119.

13.

Greenstein, S. 1968. Political socialization. The International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences 14:551-555.

14.

Hess, R. D. , and J. V. Torney . 1967. The development of political attitudes in children. Chicago: Aldine.

15.

Hyman, H. 1959. Political socialization: A study in the psychology of political behavior. Glencoe, IL: Free Press.

16.

Jennings, M. K. 1971. Political learning in the schools: An overview and a special view. ERIC Document, ED 066 349.

17.

Jennings, M. K. , and R. Niemi . 1968. Transmission of political values from parent to child. American Political Science Review 62:169-184.

18.

Langton, K. 1969. Political socialization. New York: Oxford University Press.

19.

Moore, S. , J. Lare , and K. Wagner . 1985. The child's political world: A longitudinal perspective. New York: Praeger.

20.

Palonsky, S. 1987. Political socialization in elementary schools. Elementary School Journal 5:493-505.

21.

Passe, J. 1988. Developing current events awareness in children. Social Education 52 (7):531-533.

22.

Verba, S. , and N. H. Nie . 1972. Participation in America: Political democracy and social equality. New York: Harper & Row.

23.

Weekly Reader, Inc. 1986. The Weekly Reader national survey. Middletown, CT: Weekly Reader, Inc.