This research compares two class-running patterns in elementary school: traditional pattern which elects leader by semester duration and alternative pattern which changes leader daily. It also compares results in participants’ level of leadership an...
This research compares two class-running patterns in elementary school: traditional pattern which elects leader by semester duration and alternative pattern which changes leader daily. It also compares results in participants’ level of leadership and sociality between the class-running patterns in detail. Moreover, this study aims to provide an opportunity to develop potential leadership and sociality in students.
Class-running pattern system provides the opportunity to learn the importance of the leadership and to experience democracy. Moreover, the alternative pattern teaches and offers equal opportunity to all students. For this study, we collected data from elementary schools that offer both traditional and alternative class-running patterns. We analyzed the data and completed the study through in-depth interviews.
1. Are there differences in the level of leadership between the two class-running patterns?
a. Differences between traditional pattern and alternative pattern?
b. Differences between students who had experienced leadership and who had not?
2. Are there differences in the level of sociality between the two class-running patterns?
a. Differences between traditional pattern and alternative pattern?
b. Differences between students who had experienced leadership and who had not?
For the study, we interviewed 571 students in Incheon City (277 students of traditional pattern and 294 student of alternative pattern). The collected data was processed through one-way ANOVA and technical statistics performed by SPSS ver. 12.0.
To summarize, first, students who had been class leaders had more leadership, for both traditional and alternative patterns. Moreover, the alternative pattern showed higher leadership compared to the traditional pattern. Second, Students who had been class leaders had higher sociality in the traditional pattern. In addition, alternative pattern showed more sociality than traditional pattern; it also showed higher relationship with teachers, relationship among students self confidence, responsibility, and assertiveness compared to the traditional pattern.
In sum, the experience of a class leader gives a positive difference the elementary students’leadership and sociality development. Therefore, the effort which makes all students to be a class leader should be maximized. Class-running pattern in the past helped students to understand the democracy; in contrast, alternative class-running patter in present time offers opportunity to experience leadership. Extensive research should be performed further. First, we need to discover how to provide an opportunity to develop potential leadership and sociality in students. Second, we need to consider how to offer equal opportunity to those who had not experienced leadership. Third, we need to find distinctive way to develop leadership and sociality other than through the leadership program.