The purpose of this study is to identify the relation between the voluntary service circle activities and the democratic civic consciousness of the adolescent. For such purpose, the value of democracy, attitude of democracy, and participation consciou...
The purpose of this study is to identify the relation between the voluntary service circle activities and the democratic civic consciousness of the adolescent. For such purpose, the value of democracy, attitude of democracy, and participation consciousness, which are the elements of democratic civic consciousness, between the participants and non-participants of adolescent voluntary service circle activities were surveyed and analyzed. This study would be helpful to set the direction in order to improve the democratic civic consciousness of the adolescent.
In order to accomplish the goal of this study, the subjects of the study were set as described below.
First, how is the difference in the democratic civic consciousness of the adolescent depending upon the participation in voluntary service circle activities?
Second, how is the difference in the democratic civic consciousness of the adolescent participating in voluntary service circle activities depending upon the area?
Third, how is the difference in the democratic civic consciousness of the adolescent participating in voluntary service circle activities depending upon the period of activities?
The subjects of the study were 500 adolescent persons in Jeonbuk area. The questionnaire consisted of seven questions on the general background of the adolescent. In terms of the elements of democratic civic consciousness, six questions on the value of democracy, seven questions on the attitude of democracy, and eight questions on participation in democracy were provided based on the theoretical background and preceding studies.
In terms of processing the study data, each question was made to have five points and the average and standard deviation were calculated in order to measure the level of democratic civic consciousness. In order to compare the democratic civic consciousness between the participants and non-participants of voluntary service circle activities, t-test was performed. In order to identify the difference in democratic civic consciousness by the specific background of the students, univariate distribution analysis was performed for the groups. The data was processed using SPSS Win 15.0.
As the result of analysis, it was found that the total average points of high school students for democratic civic consciousness were 3.45 which is not less than common level. The democratic civic consciousness of the adolescent participating voluntary service circle activities was 3.57 and was higher compared with the level of non-participating adolescent 3.33. In terms of the difference of the persons doing voluntary service circle activities in the democratic civic consciousness, the participation consciousness level of small city adolescent was higher than that of large city or eup adolescent. However, the democratic civic consciousness did not show significant difference depending upon the period of circle activities.
The subjects of the study were verified and the conclusion was obtained as described below.
First, the adolescent participating voluntary service circle activities showed higher democratic civic consciousness compared with non-participating adolescent.
Second, in the participants of voluntary service circle activities, the adolescent living in small city areas showed higher democratic civic consciousness.
Third, the participation period of voluntary service circle activities gave small influence to the democratic civic consciousness.
It was indicated that the democratic civic consciousness level of high school students is not elevated depending upon the participation period of circle activities and is elevated by the mental attitude to participate in voluntary service circle activities. Such conclusion means that the democratic civic education should be provided in addition to home education from the childhood before adolescent or initial adolescent period. Systematic democratic civic education for the adolescent will give positive influence for adulthood. Therefore, it is required to recognize the importance of adolescent voluntary service circle activities and to provide the measures for systematic vitalization. On such foundation, adolescent voluntary service circle activities will help the adolescent to grow up to be democratic citizens and will act as the base manure for development to a stable democratic country.
Keywords: Adolescent, voluntary service, circle, and democratic civic consciousness