Ethnic differences in Achievement

Question 1

Can you name the external factors for ethnic differences in achievement ?

Answer 1

• Linguistic skills - different language / informal English causes a struggle in conveying ideas for pupils

• Family structure - lone-parent families / Moynihan found black families with a lone mother have lower achievement of black boys due to how they do not have a male role model

• Attitudes & Values - some black pupils have a fatalistic outlook / they want immediate gratification & have limited motivation to achieve in long-term

• Material deprivation - racism leads to struggle / not granted the same opportunities as others limits achievement

Question 2

Can you name the internal factors for ethnic differences in achievement ?

Answer 2

• Labelling ( general )
-> Gillborn & Youdell, black pupils / teachers expect discipline problems / more likely to be punished for same behaviour as white students

-> Fuller, black girls / high achieving girls do not seek teacher approval, still value education

-> Mirza / racism resulted in no help from teachers as girls chose to not interact with them

-> Wright, Asian pupils / stereotyped / teachers used simple language

• Sewell, pupil subcultures / response to racist labelling
1) Conformists
2) Innovators
3) Retreatists
4) Rebels

• Ball, Ethnocentric curriculum - British curriculum priorities white culture and English language , e.g, holidays in line with Christian calendar