The effects of local history inquiry on community pride and civic engagement

Abstract

The goal of this research study was to determine the effect of teaching local history on students’ pride in their communities and commitment to civic engagement. To conduct the study, nine high school students in the ninth through eleventh grade participated in an after-school local history inquiry programme, consisting of traditional history instruction and independent research into the history of students’ neighbourhoods. Students were surveyed at the beginning and end of the study, and focus groups were interviewed at the study’s conclusion. The study determined that learning more about local history made students prouder of their communities and more interested in improving them, although students remained sceptical of their ability to do so.