Card 24 - Differential Attainment: Internal Class Factors: Labelling

Question 1

Summarise Rist’s research on primary school labelling.

Answer 1

• Found that in one primary school teachers used class as a means of separating children.
• Tigers - Fast learners, majority middle class.
• Clowns & Cardinals - Majority working class, given little opportunity.

Question 2

How might Gilborn & Youdell’s education triage be a type of labelling?

Answer 2

• Teachers label students as either “passing without help”, “passing with help” or “Will not pass at all”.
• Shows how these groups set by the teachers may influence their teaching and discourage students in lower sets.