Political socialization and teachers' training in Rhodesia

Author

Robert Thiele

Date of Award

8-1982

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Political Science

Major Professor

Robert Cunningham

Committee Members

T. A. Smith, Alfred Guthe, Gill Evans

Abstract

The principal question of this dissertation is: Do Rhodesian teacher trainees possess the attitudes and behavioral dispositions believed to be functional for democracy. It was foreseen that only an approximate answer could be given, both because of limited opportunities to gather information in Third World societies and because the necessary and sufficient conditions for development and maintenance of a democratic polity have not been determined.

A questionnaire was administered to teacher trainees and interviews were conducted with trainees, their teachers and with Ministry of Education officials.

Principal findings: Most trainees were suffering from cultural adjustment problems, being torn between the value systems of their traditional village and that of their training college. Males appeared more alienated than females. The more educated the trainees were, the more alienated.

There appeared to be a consensus on the desirability of an African political majority but with a continued European contribution. An educational test for voting was more acceptable than was an income test. Ndebele trainees sought some mechanism that would prevent a Shona political majority.

Many trainees showed a general commitment to democracy, although unsure exactly what democracy is. A number of trainees favored African socialism, having been led to believe that with it toil and poverty would miraculously cease and Rhodesia would become a land of ease and plenty. Other trainees argued for a reorientation of the capitalist system so that Africans could compete more successfully. Many pupils seemed more concerned with improving their economic status and that of their families than with public affairs.

This dissertation's conclusion is that, although most trainees had internalized many attitudes and behavioral dispositions necessary to function as citizens of a democratic state, their commitment was not so unequivocal that they would actively resist any non-democratic order.

Recommended Citation

Thiele, Robert, "Political socialization and teachers' training in Rhodesia. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1982.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/13333