P1 Education - Labelling and the Self Fulfilling Prophecy

Question 1

What is the self fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 1

Creating the effect of a self fulfilling prophecy can be the result of teachers expectations, whereby whatever they anticipate can be the result of actual outcomes

Question 2

How can the self fulfilling prophecy happen?

Answer 2

1. Pupils accept the label that teachers give them as being true and internalise it
2. Or they react against the labelling process and do not conform to negative assumptions.

Question 3

What was the self fulfilling prophecy like in history?

Answer 3

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, the self fulfilling prophecy was a very influential concept and led to many educational reforms.

The idea of placing pupils in different classes or schools based on ability was seen to damage the prospects of the less able considerably.

Question 4

What are recent changes in self fulfilling prophecy?

Answer 4

Recently there has become less focus on the concerns of splitting pupils and an increase in the desire to achieve high grades and higher table positions.

The introduction of the Ofsted rating of schools somewhat re introduced the idea of separating the weak from the strong

Question 5

How does teacher pupil relationships affect educational achievement?

Answer 5

The interactions students have with their teachers has a significant effect on their educational experience.

Teachers prefer to teach pupils whom they perceive to be:
- Well behaved
- Well motivated
- Well mannered
- Reserved
- Compliant

These pupils are rewarded with praise and placement in higher sets.

Question 6

What does Becker argue?

Answer 6

• He was an interactionist sociologist who believed that the ideal pupil being one who conforms to the middle class standards of behaviour.
• He also said that teachers did not naturally assign low ability to working class pupils
• Teachers rather have a common sense understanding of ability why they think to be fair and without bias.

Question 7

What does Gillborn and Youdell argue?

Answer 7

• They suggest that teachers discriminate against working class pupils by failing to recognise their intelligence because they do not exhibit in the right way.
• Instead teachers use blinkered judgement to allocate working class pupils to lower sets and foundation tier examinations

Question 8

How can self fulfilling prophecy affect ethnic minorities?

Answer 8

Differential treatment of ethnic minorities by teachers can have negative consequences for the teacher pupil relationship and for learning

Many feel angry that they are singled out for punishment. This can lead to anti school sentiments making interaction with teachers more confrontational

Question 9

What does Connolly argue about ethnic minority?

Answer 9

He believes that many black male pupils get drawn into this downward spiral of disengagement from schooling.