Political Activism and Civic Education among Australian Secondary School Students

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of school variables on student political knowledge and political activity. The study is based on survey questionnaire data from 1311 secondary school students in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The analysis focuses on the importance of civic knowledge, democratic values and dispositions towards normative and non-normative political activity. The findings show that many Australian students have had experience with normative forms of political activity, such as signing petitions or writing letters. Fewer indicate that they have engaged in forms of non-normative political behaviour, such as occupying buildings or participating in violent demonstrations. Students oriented to normative political activism tended to be female and more supportive of human rights and freedoms, whereas those oriented to non-normative political activism were generally male, alienated from school, and not supportive of rights and freedoms. Exposure to civics instruction was positively related to political knowledge and normative forms of political activity.