Youth Socialization and Civic Participation: The Role of Secondary Schools in Promoting Community Service in Southern California

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to illuminate high schools' roles in encouraging volunteer community service. The authors sought to answer four questions: (a) What is the extent and distribution of secondary schools that sponsor or provide volunteer service programs, (b) how do secondary schools promote or support volunteering among students, (c) what is the rationale for offering community service, and (d) what is the conceptual relationship between school auspices and community service offerings? The findings generally support the expected differences between public and private schools; for example, private religious schools are most likely to mandate service experiences for their students. However, the differences between private religious and nonsectarian schools need further elaboration. To the extent that civic participation is based on social interdependence and a sense of community responsibility or ownership, high school community service remains problematic as a means to socializing students into the role of civic participation.