Internal Factors Affecting Class Flashcards
Labelling
To attach a meaning/ definition to someone based off of stereotyping and prejudice.
Labelling: [Interactionist] Howard Becker (1971)
Interviewed high school teachers from Chicago and found that teachers judged pupils based on how closely they fitted an image of the “ideal pupil.”
- Pupils work, conduct and appearance were key factors in influencing teachers’ backgrounds; MC pupils were considered the closest to being “ideal.”
Counter to Becker: Hempen-Jorgensen (2009)
Study found that teachers have different notions of the “ideal pupil” according to the social makeup of the school.
- In the largely WC school, the “ideal pupil” was considered to be “quiet, passive and obedient.”
- In the largely MC school, the notion of the ideal pupil was less focused on behaviour and more on academic ability.
Labelling In Secondary Schools: [Interactionists] Dunne + Gazeley (2008)
- Argues that schools persistently produce the underachievement of the WC due to teachers’ labels/ assumptions.
- From interviews they found that teachers “normalised” and were unconcerned with WC underachievement, but believed that they could overcome MC underachievement.
- Labelled WC families as “uninterested” and MC families as “supportive.”
- Any WC pupils doing well were considered as “over-achieving.”
Labelling In Primary Schools: [Interactionist] Ray Rist (1970)
- Study on American kindergarten shows found that teachers used information about children’s home backgrounds and appearance to place them in separate groups.
- Fast learners (“tigers”) were considered MC and received the most attention and encouragement, compared to the WC “cardinals” and “clowns”, who were seated further away and given lower-level work.
The Self-fulfilling Prophecy:
1) The teacher labels a pupil (child will be successful)
2) The teacher treats the pupil accordingly, acting as though the prediction is already true (gives child extra work/more attention)
3) The pupil internalises the teacher’s expectation, allowing it to become part of their self-image, and what the teacher had intended. (Child tries harder, gains confidence and becomes successful)
SFP: Rosenthal + Jacobson (1968)
- Study in Californian primary school; psychologists gave teachers a list of pupils who would “spurt” ahead; teachers believed this.
- Results highlighted that 47% “spurters” made significant progress.
- Concluded that teachers’ beliefs about the pupils had influenced the way they interacted with them, giving them more attention/ encouragement.
Streaming
- Separating children into different ability groups/ classes and teaching them all subjects in that stream.
- WC pupils are more likely to be placed into lower streams
- Creates a SFP: WC pupils live up to teachers low expectations
Steaming: Douglas
Found that children placed in a higher stream at 8 years old had an improved IQ score by the age of 11
Streaming: Gillborn + Youdell (2001)
- Study of 2 London secondary schools found that teachers were less likely to see WC and black pupils as having ability.
- WC more likely to be in lower streams/ sit lower tier GCSE’s
A-C Economy: Gillborn + Youdell (2001)
- Link streaming to the publishing of exam league tables.
- Schools need to achieve a good league table position in order to attract pupils and funding; creating A-C economy:
- Schools focus time, effort and resources on those they see as having potential to get 5 C’s thus boosting schools position.
Educational Triage: Gillborn + Youdell
The A-C economy creates an educational triage:
Schools categorise pupils accordingly:
- those who will pass anyway and are left to “get on with it.”
- those with potential, who will be helped to get a C or better.
- “hopeless cases”, “doomed to fail.” (WC/ back pupils who are consequently placed into lower streams)
Pupil Subcultures
A group of pupils who share similar values and behavioural patterns.
They often emerge as a response to the way pupils have been labelled or as a reaction to streaming.
Colin Lacey (1970) Differentiation
The process of teachers categorising pupils according to how they perceive their ability/attitude/ behaviour.
- Streaming is a form of this, as it categorises pupils into separate classes: those considered “more able” —> (higher stream/ higher status), compared to those considered “less able” —> (lower stream/ lower status)
Colin Lacey (1970) Polarisation
The process in which pupils respond to streaming by moving towards one of the two opposite “poles”
- Lacey’s study on a boys grammar school found that streaming polarised boys into either a pro or anti school subculture.
