Masters Thesis

A rap group as a means of improving student/student and student/teacher relations

The purpose of this project was to improve student to student and student to teacher interaction in an integrated elementary school. Two rap groups were set up as a means of helping to achieve this goal and at the same time improve race relations among the students. Each group consisted of twenty students, 50 percent black and 50 percent white. They met for one hour each week and were led by a group facilitator. The group activities focused on developing interracial friendships, leadership skills, communication skills, an awareness of student norms and an ability to perceive and predict self and others more accurately. There was also an informal section to each group session, during which time students worked on specific intra/interpersonal goals they had set. Data was gathered by standardized tests, pre- and post-group, student and teacher questionnaires, informal student and teacher verbal evaluations and direct observation of behavior. An analysis of the data indicated a significant statistical change in a positive direction for interpersonal relations, intrapersonal skills and attitudes, as well as interracial interaction. One conclusion drawn from this project is that students can be a positive force in the integration process through the use of encounter or T-groups which exemplify growth and change within and among themselves.

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