Pupil Identities

Question 1

How does Archer describe the dominant discourse constructs of 3 different pupils identities?

Answer 1

• The ideal pupil identity
• The pathologised pupil identity
• The Demonised Pupil Identity

Question 2

What is the ‘ideal pupil identity’ according to Archer?

Answer 2

A white middle class masculinised identity with a normal sexuality ; this pupils is seen as achieving the right way through natural ability and initiative

Question 3

What is the’ pathologised pupil identity’ according to Archer?

Answer 3

• An Asian ‘deserving poor’, feminised identity, either asexual or with an oppressed sexuality; this pupil is seen as a conformist and culture bound over achiever who succeeds through hard work not natural ability

Question 4

What is the ‘demonised pupil identity’ according to Archer?

Answer 4

-a black or white working class, hyper-sexualised identity ; this pupil is seen as an unintelligent, peer-led culturally deprived underachiever

Question 5

What did Archer find from interviews with students and teachers?

Answer 5

black students are demonised as loud, challenging, excessively sexual and with ‘unaspirational’ home cultures

Question 6

How are Chinese pupils seen by teacher according to Archer?

Answer 6

• viewed negatively
• Chinese student were seen as achieving success in the wrong way, through hardworking conformist rather than natural individual ability
• this meant they could never be the ideal pupil

Question 7

What does Archer conclude?

Answer 7

that even successes of ethnic minority pupils will only be seen as ‘over-achieving’ since ‘proper’ achievement is seen to be natural to the privileged white middle class ideal pupil