Gender - Boys and Achievement - Are More Male Teachers Really Needed? Flashcards
What does research suggest about the shortage of male teachers and boys’ underachievement? (AO3)
However, research suggests that the absence of male teahcers may not be a major factor in boys’ underachievement.
What sociologist goes with the evaluation that the shortage of male teachers may not be the major factor of boys’ underachivement?
Francis (006) found that two-thirds of 7-8 year olds believed that the gender of teachers does not matter.
What sociologist also supports this evaluation and what is she critical of?
Read (2008) is also critical of the claims that the culture of primary schools is becoming feminised and that only male teachers can exert the firm discipline that boys need to achieve.
What did Read study? (language, teachers, critcism)
Read studied the type of language teachers use to express criticism or disapproval of pupils’ work and behaviour.
What did Read identify in her study?
Read identified two types of langauge/discourse that teachers used. These were:
- a disciplinarian discourse
- a liberal discourse
What is disciplinarian discourse?
A disciplarian discourse is where the teacher’s authority is made explicit and visible.
What are examples of a disciplinarian discourse used by teachers?
Shouting, an ‘exasperated’ tone of voice and sarcasm.
What is a liberal discourse?
A liberal discourse is where the teacher’s authority is implicit and invisible. This is a child-centred discourse.
What are examples of a liberal discourse used by teachers?
‘Pseudo-adultification’.
What is ‘pseudo-adultification’?
Pseudo-adultification is where the teacher speaks to the pupil as if they were an adult and expects them to be kind, sensible, and respectful of the teacher.
What are both discourses usaully associated with?
The disciplinarian discourse is usually associated with masculinity, whereas the liberal discourse is usually associated with femininity.
Who did Read study?/What was her sample?
Read studied 51 primary school teachers - 25 male and 26 female teachers.
How does Read evaluate her own study? (AO3)
However, Read found that most teachers, female as well as male, used a supposedly ‘masculine’ disciplinarian discourse to control pupils’ behaviour.
What was one of the conclusions that Read made from her findings?
Read concluded that most teachers favoured a ‘masculine’, disciplinarian discourse of control, which disproves the claim that the culture of the primary school has become feminised, as Sewell and others argue.
What was another conclusion that Read made from her findings?
Read also concludes that female teachers were just as likely as males to use a ‘masculine’ discourse to control pupils’ behaviour, which disproves the claim that only male teachers can provide the stricter classroom culture in which boys are said to thrive.
