ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILD'S PERCEPTION OF POLICE AND THE POLICE FUNCTION - AN EVALUATION STUDY OF THE OFFICER FRIENDLY PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 15714
• Author(s): E C FROEMEL; M E BAEHR; J E FURCON; M THOMPSON
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 204 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Sears-Roebuck Foundation
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ASSESSMENT OF A PROJECT DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH RAPPORT BETWEEN SCHOOL CHILDREN AND POLICE, BY POLICE VISTS AND INSTRUCTION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

Abstract

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE OFFICER FRIENDLY PROGRAM ARE TO INSTILL A SENSE OF TRUST IN POLICEMEN AND APPRECIATION OF POLICE WORK, TO REINFORCE BASIC RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND TO DEVELOP THE CHILD'S UNDERSTANDING OF HIS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THREE PHASES, INVOLVING THREE SEPARATE VISITS TO SCHOOLS BY POLICE ARE EMPLOYED. SCHOOLS WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED FOR THE STUDY, AND FIRST AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS FORMED THE SUBJECT GROUP OF 1591 STUDENTS. TWO CITIES, CHICAGO AND INDIANAPOLIS, PARTICIPATED. MEANS OF MEASUREMENT WERE PRE AND POST TEST SCORES, TEACHERS' AND OFFICERS' ESTIMATES OF CHANGE, AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE PROGRAM BY ALL CONCERNED. TEST RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE PROGRAM HAD MORE IMPACT ON FIRST GRADE THAN FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. OTHER VARIATIONS IN TEST SCORES ACCORDING TO RACE, ECONOMIC GROUP, AND GRADE ARE ALSO REPORTED. WHILE MATERIALS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFICIENT, THE OFFICERS FRIENDLY WERE FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE, AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE PROGRAM BE CONTINUED. STUDENT, SCHOOL OPINION, AND POLICE OPINION PRE AND POST QUESTIONNAIRES ARE APPENDED.