Public Subculture

Question 1

Pupil subculture

Answer 1

Group of pupils who share similar values and behaviour patterns

Question 2

Collin Laceys (1970) concepts differentiation and polarisation

Answer 2

Differentiation- process of teachers categorising pupils according to how they perceive their ability
Polarisation- process in which pupils respond to streming by moving towards on of two opposite poles

Question 3

Pro school subculture

Answer 3

Pupils placed in high streams(largely middle class) tend to remain committed to the values of the school
They gain their status through the approved manner
Tend to form a pro-school subculture

Question 4

Anti-school subculture

Answer 4

Those placed in low streams suffer a loss of self-esteem inferior
The label of failure pushes them to search for alternative ways of gaining status

Question 5

David Hargreaves (1967)

Answer 5

Boys in lower streams were triple failures
They have been labelled as ‘worthless louts’

Question 6

Abolishing streaming Stephen Ball

Answer 6

Found that when school abolished banding, the basis for pupils to polarise into subcultures was largely removed and the influence of the anti-school subculture declined
But differentiation continued

Question 7

Other responses to labelling and streaming Peter Woods (1979)

Answer 7

Ingratation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion

Question 8

Criticisms of labelling theory

Answer 8

Labelling theory accused of determinism
Assumes people who are labelled have no choice but to fulfil the prophecy and will inevitably fail

Marxisists criticise labelling theory for ignoring the wider structure of power within labelling takes place. Blames teachers but fails to explain why they label in the first place
Teachers work in a system that reproduces class division