Internal- Labelling Flashcards
What is labelling?
The way social actors attach ‘labels’ to other social actors. In education, the teacher is the labeller and the student is the labelled.
What did Becker find in his study of 60 Chicago schools?
Teachers tended to classify and evaluate students in terms of ‘ideal type’ (based on work, conduct and appearance). He argued children from non-manual backgrounds (MC) were closest to type while students from manual backgrounds (WC) we’re furthest away.
How can labelling affect educational achievement?
If a pupil is negatively labelled by a teacher then they may start to believe they are a failure and consequently become one.
What does Becker term as the consequences of labelling?
Self-fulfilling prophecy.
What does a positive label lead to?
Success.
What could labelled students do with a label?
Accept or resist it. According to Becker, it is easier for children from a manual background to resist a ‘label’ as they would receive parental support. However the labelling of pupils from manual backgrounds may force them into counter school subcultures which would provide the opportunity to recover their self esteem.
Two pieces of research into labelling?
- Dunne and Gazeley (secondary school)
2. Ritz (kindergarten)
How did Dunne and Gazeley argue schools produce WC underachievement?
Through ‘labels’ and teachers assumptions.
What did Dunne and Gazeley find in their research?
Interviews in 9 English secondary schools- teachers ‘normalised’ WC, they seemed unconcerned with it and felt they could do little about it. They believed they could help MC overcome their underachievement.
Why did teachers feel they could help MC overcome their underachievement? (Dunne and Gazeley)
Teachers belief in the role and importance of pupils home background. They saw WC parents as uninterested and MC parents as supportive. - Leads to class difference in how teachers deal with underachievement. (Set extension tasks for MC but enter WC for foundation exams).
How did teachers view WC pupils doing well? (Dunne and Gazeley).
Teachers underestimated WC pupils and those doing well were seen as ‘overachieving’.
Where did Ritz conduct his research?
American Kindergarten schools
What did Ritz’s research find?
He found teachers use information about home backgrounds and appearance to place them in different groups, seating st different tables. ‘Fast learners’- typically MC with meat and clean appearance sat closest to her and shown greatest encouragement. The other two groups were labelled as ‘cardinals’ and ‘clowns’. They were seated further away, typically WC, given lower level books and less opportunity to show their ability.
