Education Flashcards
What is labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy?
labelling- to label someone is to attach a meaning or definition to them (e.g teacher may label students as hardworking, stupid, or troublemaker)
self fulfilling prophecy- where teachers teach pupils differently based on the label and the pupil comes to believe that label, internalising it and so it becomes part of their self concept so he/she becomes the kind of pupil the teacher expected them to be.
What did Becker say about labelling?
his important interactionist study, where he interviewed 60 chicago high school teachers , he found that they judged pupils according ti how closely they fitted with their image of an ‘ideal pupil’. this was a concept in their minds regarding the characteristics and behaviours of a model student.. was a reference point where other students are judged against based on appearance, conduct, manner, language and work.
why does the concept of an ‘ideal pupil’ play a significant role in the labelling process?
it guides teachers expectations and perceptions of their students.
What did Rist’s 1970 study say about labelling?
he analysed how a teacher used the home backgrounds of kindergarten students to segregate them into different groups. found that teachers grouped students based on socio-economic status, creating the tigers group comprised of neat, middle class academically advanced students, ‘the cardinals’ who were average, and the clowns who were considered troublesome students from poor, working class, and deprived backgrounds. he revealed that the labels attaches to them in their early years of education continued to influence their academic experiences and outcomes. the study highlights the significant impact that early labelling can have on a student’s education and ultimately, their future opportunities.
What did Dunne and Gazeley say about labelling?
schools produce working class underachievement because of the labels the labels and assumptions of teachers. From interviews in 9 English state secondary schools they found teachers normalised the underachievement of working class pupils n thought little could be done about it. they labelled working class parents as disinterested in their children’s education, but middle class parents were supportive. this led to differences in how teachers dealt with pupils they perceived as underachieving - setting extension work for middle class students but entering working class students into easier exams
What did Rosenthal and Jacobsen do and say about labelling?
carried out a study called ‘pygmalion in the classroom’ where they gave fake iq tests to students and then randomly selected some of them as bright or spurters and others as less able. they told the teachers and a yr later re did the tests and found that those identified as spurters made more progress than the less-able. they said this was a result of more praise and attention for the spurters, this study suggests higher teacher expectations can make a marked difference to pupil attainment
how does the ‘pygmalion in the classroom’ study show evidence of the self fulfilling prophecy?
the students were transformed by the teachers positive expectation of them. they got smarter when they were expected to get smarter.
what is setting and streaming?
streaming- separating pupils into different ability groups of classes called streams, then they’re taught separately from the others in all subjects, self fulfilling prophecy is particularly likely to occur when children are streamed. setting- where individuals are are placed into sets based on their ability.
What did Becker say about setting and streaming?
teachers dont usually see working class children as ideal pupils. they tend to see them as lacking ability n have lower expectations of them and as a result are more likely to be put in a lower stream, n once streamed its hard to move out n child gets locked into teacher’s low expectations, creating a self fulfilling prophecy where students underachieve.
what did douglas say abut setting and streaming?
found that kids put in lower streams at 8 had a decline in their iq by 11. in contrast middle class pupils benefit from streaming, they’re more likely to develop a more positive self concept, gain confidence, work harder n improve grades. he found that kids placed in higher streams at 8 had improved their iq by 11. streaming n setting also impacts the exams students are entered for and the grades they can achieve.
Describe Stephen Ball “Beachside Comprehensive” (1981)
looks at the impact of setting. found there weee a disproportionate number of children form middle class homes placed in the top band, on entry most pupils were conformist, enthusiastic n well behaved but over time behaviour became polarised. top band- continued to conform n work hard but middle band had deteriorating attendance, poor academic performance n more disciplinary problems. pupil in bb and 3 generally had special needs. ball believed this was because of differing teacher expectations. he said top band kids were warmed up n middle band were cooled down. he admits not all pupils responded to these patterns but majority did. he also found that in mixed ability groups teachers still categorised and labelled students according to social class
gilborn and youdell (2000)
found teachers use stereotypical notions of ability to stream pupils from studying to ldn secondary schools. teachers are less likely to see working class black students as having ability, therefore they’re put into lower streams, it’s and lower exams. process of league tables leads to a process of educational triage as schools are under pressure to improve pass rates.
Diane Reay ‘the zombie stalking english schools’
conducted interviews with individual students in 2 secondary schools. in 1 school the students in bottom set were all working class, we students were seen as inadequate learners, experiences were similiar in the 2nd school, despite having mixed ability groups
how can negative interactions and perceptions of teachers impact the student’s behaviour in school?
encourage them to act out n adopt an anti-school subculture as there’s no expectation for them to succeed anyway
what is a pupil subculture?
a group of pupils who share similar values and behaviour patterns n they often emerge as a response to the way pupils have been labelled n in particular as a reaction to streaming
