Internal Factors Flashcards
Labelling
To label someone is to attach a meaning or definition to them.
Howard Becker (1971)- Labelling in secondary schools.
Interactionist study.
Based on interviews with 60 Chicago high school teachers, he found that they judged them based on how closely they ‘fitted’ an image of the ‘ideal’ pupil.
Pupil’s work, conduct and appearance were key factors influencing teacher judgement. Teachers saw pupils from M/C backgrounds closest to the ‘ideal’ and W/C the furthest because they regarded them as badly behaved.
CICOUREL & KITUSE (1963)
Studied educational counsellors in an American high school and discovered how much labelling can disadvantage W/C pupils
Although they claimed to assess them based on ability, they seemed to assess them based on their social class/ race. M/C students were deemed more suitable and were placed on higher-level courses!
Labelling in primary schools
Ray Rist’s (1970) study of an American kindergarten demonstrates this. Teachers used information about the children’s home background and appearance to place them into groups and seat them at different tables.
TIGERS, CARDINALS & CLOWNS
TIGERS: These were fast learners, M/C who had neat and clean appearance. They were seated at the front to get the most encouragement.
CARDINALS: W/C children who were given lower-level books.
CLOWNS: Seated furthest away and given fewer opportunities to demonstrate their abilities EG: through reading as a group, not as individuals.
