ABSTRACT:
Based on a study about two prestigious private schools located in Lisbon, we analyze the extracurricular activities attended by upper class students. Firstly, the paper discusses the non-formal education and the importance of these activities in the daily life of these students. Then, we present methodological strategy (methods and techniques) and main empirical results, related to the students' involvement in extracurricular activities and perceptions shared by their parents about it. We conclude that the students participate massively at these non-formal initiatives and that their preferences are eclectic - and not linearly correlated with their social class. The initiatives they choose are deeply linked to the ethos of the school attended. We also conclude that the students and parents' choice of extracurricular activities are influenced by the instrumentality and by the desire of making an investment on their future.
Keywords:
Extracurricular activities; Socialization; Private schools; Upper classes.