School and community: investigating popular participation and bond for the exercise of citizenship

Abstract

Citizen ship throughout history was limited to privileges of social classes with greater purchasing power and socio-cultural relevance. Currently, democracies are characterized by the search for equality of civil, political and social right so find individual sand groups. Thus, popular participation and the links between school and community were investigated, through the exercise of citizen ship in collegiate spaces of the school environment. An exploratory and quantitative study, comprising Basic Education Schools in urban and rural areas in the municipality of Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil with a Health at School Program. Data collection was obtained through interviews with the principals of the investigated schools regarding the author ship of the Pedagogical Political Project (PPP), the composition of the School Council sand the development of extracurricular activities. Forty-eight schools participated in the study, from the state and municipal networks, representing institutions from urban and rural areas. Regarding the composition of school councils, the local community was not represented, however, school management was present in 100% of the institutions. In the preparation of the PPP, there was a representation of teachers (95%), followed by school management (87%), and students with 40%. Thus, there is little connection between the school and the local community, parents, students and residents, when compared to the participation of school management. Therefore, it is necessary to stimulate and support educational institutions to strengthen the link between school and local community in favor of exercising citizenship.