The impact of high school on social development.
In reviewing the literature on the social impact of high school, six themes were identified: (1) students perceive strong norms for conformity to school rules, (2) the emphasis on conformity and control influences the quality of student/teacher relations which tend to be role bound and inflexible, (3) paths to social status continue to emphasize athletic competence, (4) peer group identification has an impact on social relations within the larger community as well as in the school setting, (5) powerlessness is felt as a result of the authoritarian approach to decision making, and (6) the overall high school environment does not enhance students' beliefs in the Bill of Rights. It was concluded that high school students have limited opportunities for flexible self-definition. As a result of the way they are treated by authority figures and the strong pressures toward conformity, many adolescents fail to learn the extent of their rights or effective strategies for the exercise of power.
Ohio State University, Columbus.
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D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D010553:Personality Development; D012574:Schools; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012925:Social Conformity; D012931:Social Environment; D012951:Socialization; D013663:Teaching