Subcultures

Question 1

Lacey

Answer 1

Study of a m/c grammar school, found 2 related processes- differentiation + polarisation

Question 2

Lacey- Differentiation

Answer 2

Schools value hard work, good behaviour + exam success, teachers categorise students based on these criteria

Question 3

Lacey- Polarisation

Answer 3

Students attracted to poles, conformist, high achieving pro-school subcultures, and low achieving, negatively labelled, anti-school subcultures

Question 4

Lacey- Support

Answer 4

Hangreaves (Secondary Modern), Ball (Streamed Comprehensive), Abraham (Comprehensive with setting)
Found teacher’s perception of academic ability and differentiation + polarisation affected how they behaved

Question 5

Pro-School Subcultures- Definition

Answer 5

Groups of pupils who generally conform to academic aims, ethos, and values of a school.

Question 6

Pro-School Subcultures- Characteristics

Answer 6

Typically upper streams/sets, successful academically, good behaviour, conformist, engaged in lessons, good uniform
Likely to be m/c or skilled w/c

Question 7

Pro-School Subcultures- Willis

Answer 7

‘Ear ‘Oles’- conformist pupils in Willis’ study of Wolverhampton comprehensive
More likely to be m/c

Question 8

Pro-School Subcultures- Mac an Ghaill

Answer 8

2 male groups- Academic Achievers and New Enterprisers
Skilled manual w/c, white or Asian students, aspiring to m/c careers, through academic or vocational/technical success respectively.

Question 9

Pro-School Subcultures- Sewell

Answer 9

Conformists- among some black pupils, sought to achieve academic success to avoid racist labelling/stereotypes from teachers

Question 10

Anti-School Subcultures- Definition

Answer 10

Groups of pupils who rebel against the school and develop an alternative, anti-school identity. Subculture of resistance, delinquent values, attitudes + behaviours, opposition to school aims, ethos, and values

Question 11

Anti-School Subcultures- Characteristics

Answer 11

Truancy, playing up teachers, messing around, breaking school rules, copying work, disrupting school
Often lower streams/sets, poor educational achievement
Likely Black Caribbean and white British w/c

Question 12

Anti-School Subcultures- Willis

Answer 12

‘Lads’- opposed to main aims of school, aimed to free themselves from boring, oppressive schooling by ‘having a laff’
Wanted to leave education as soon as possible

Question 13

Anti-School Subcultures- Mac an Ghaill

Answer 13

Black Caribbean w/c boys in lower sets.
‘Macho lads’ and ‘the rebels’- subculture of resistance
Achieved status through aggressive masculinity + peer-group support

Question 14

Anti-School Subcultures- Sewell

Answer 14

Black Caribbean w/c boys, rejection of school as a rebellion against racist stereotypes and labelling

Question 15

Anti-School Subcultures- Jackson

Answer 15

13-14 boys and girls, some girls adopt ‘ladette’ behaviour, similar to ‘laddish’ culture of boys.
Similar too cool to work approach- confrontational + aim to make teachers’ lives hell
But many girls tried to achieve success clandestinely

Question 16

Woods

Answer 16

Two poles too simple- identified eight different responses to school ranging from pro to anti
Ingratiation, Compliance, Opportunism, Ritualism, Retreatism, Colonisation, Intransigence, Rebellion

Question 17

Woods- Ingratiation (1)

Answer 17

Pro-school conformity as in pro-school subculture
Eagerness to please teachers + win favour

Question 18

Woods- Compliance (2)

Answer 18

Conformity for what they can get out of schooling, such as exam success, not because they like school

Question 19

Woods- Opportunism (3)

Answer 19

Trying to gain teacher + peer group approval, moving between both depending on what is beneficial at the time

Question 20

Woods- Ritualism (4)

Answer 20

Lack of interest or engagement, but projected conformity by going through the motions + avoiding trouble

Question 21

Woods- Retreatism (5)

Answer 21

Not actively opposed to school values, indifferent to them. Messing around in class, distracted, indifferent to success, dropping out from involvement

Question 22

Woods- Colonisation (6)

Answer 22

Accept school for what it offers, but reject it for what it forbids. Take opportunities for fun, aggression, and hostility so far as they avoid trouble.

Question 23

Woods- Intransigence (7)

Answer 23

Trouble makers- indifferent to school and unbothered about consequences of non-conformity

Question 24

Woods- Rebellion (8)

Answer 24

Outright rejection of schooling and its values. Anti-school activity and anti-school subculture