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To determine the effect of early political instruction, a series of basic political concepts were introduced to primary grade children. Using one class of second and one class of fourth graders as control groups and one class of second and another class of fourth graders as experimental groups, a unit of civic instruction was taught during the 2-week period before a national election. The experimental groups received formal instruction in political concepts over a 3-week period and engaged in concept-related role playing activities. All children were given structured interviews before and after the period of instruction; these results were coded. Pre- and post-tests were the Science Research Associates achievement and primary abilities tests. Interview results showed that all groups increased in the average level of political concept-attainment during the election period, but the experimental groups increased more rapidly even when initial levels of political concept attainment and general school achievement were held constant. It is suggested that the young child is capable of understanding more about the political realm than is generally assumed and that school political instruction could profitably begin earlier than it normally does. Appendixes describe concepts, interviews, and changes in political conceptualization. (Author/DR)

1Boy Crusoe

By Allan Eric

Also published as" A Yankee Crusoe" . A 15 year old hard working and studious farm boy finds the lure of adventure on the seas as a merchant seaman more than he can resist. This is his story. " I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my life full to over-flowing. " What he gets is enough excitement and adventure to overflow his wildest dreams. How he experiences disaster and uses his wits and knowledge to overcome every problem makes for a great read. - Summary by Phil Chenevert