Manchester University Press
9 The Letter Project – students’ own stories
Abstract
This chapter discusses the results of the Letter Project, where students in four selected classes in Palermo were invited to write private letters on different themes during their three years at lower secondary school. A total of 222 letters were received, on four themes: ‘A normal day in my life’, ‘My district’, ‘Relations with other people’ and ‘Reflections on important events at school’. The analysis of students' letters is organised according to different themes. The first consists of students' description of school life, including their perception of school, interaction with teachers, social interaction with peers, and experiences of school excursions. The chapter also includes students' narratives about trust in other persons and their descriptions of the residents and their neighbourhoods. How do these young people reason about trust? Do they believe that people in general can be trusted, or are they cautious when dealing with other people? What motivates their perceptions on trust? This chapter presents students' own stories about trust and cooperation.
Abstract
This chapter discusses the results of the Letter Project, where students in four selected classes in Palermo were invited to write private letters on different themes during their three years at lower secondary school. A total of 222 letters were received, on four themes: ‘A normal day in my life’, ‘My district’, ‘Relations with other people’ and ‘Reflections on important events at school’. The analysis of students' letters is organised according to different themes. The first consists of students' description of school life, including their perception of school, interaction with teachers, social interaction with peers, and experiences of school excursions. The chapter also includes students' narratives about trust in other persons and their descriptions of the residents and their neighbourhoods. How do these young people reason about trust? Do they believe that people in general can be trusted, or are they cautious when dealing with other people? What motivates their perceptions on trust? This chapter presents students' own stories about trust and cooperation.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xiii
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The origins of generalised trust 19
- 3 Methods 40
- 4 The Mafia 54
- 5 Cultural warfare 74
- 6 Students’ trust in political institutions 97
- 7 Students’ perceptions of generalised trust 116
- 8 Explaining generalised trust 137
- 9 The Letter Project – students’ own stories 163
- 10 Conclusion 199
- Appendix 224
- References 230
- Index 237
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of tables x
- Acknowledgements xiii
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The origins of generalised trust 19
- 3 Methods 40
- 4 The Mafia 54
- 5 Cultural warfare 74
- 6 Students’ trust in political institutions 97
- 7 Students’ perceptions of generalised trust 116
- 8 Explaining generalised trust 137
- 9 The Letter Project – students’ own stories 163
- 10 Conclusion 199
- Appendix 224
- References 230
- Index 237
