Teacher Stereotypes of the 'Ideal Pupil' and Construction of Pupil Identities (sociologists + summary)

Question 1

Waterhouse

Answer 1

Case study, 4 primary + secondary schools
Labels become a ‘pivotal identity’- core identity used to interpret classroom behaviours.
Deviant behaviour for ‘normal’ students seen as a phase, and vice versa

Question 2

Becker

Answer 2

Teachers initially evaluate pupils in relation to ‘ideal pupil’ stereotypes, which set standard for judgements of the quality of young people as pupils. Represent typical conformist pupil.

Question 3

Hempel-Jorgensen

Answer 3

Year-long, 12 primary schools, Hampshire. Used observation, conversation with children, and semi-structured interviews with teachers.
Pupils share a concept of an ‘ideal learner’ which influences their ‘learner identity’ and self-perception, as well as how they view their classmates- impact on educational motivation, aspiration + attainment

Question 4

Harvey and Slatin

Answer 4

Photographs of children to 96 primary school teachers
White, middle-class children identified as likely successful, lowered expectations of those from poorer + non-white backgrounds

Question 5

Gillborn

Answer 5

‘Ideal pupil’ stereotype favours white students, many teachers didn’t see black children as potential successes
More likely to be placed in lower sets, denied opportunities + access to subjects, and not entered for top exams

Question 6

Hartley and Sutton

Answer 6

Ideal pupil stereotype favours girls- including Indian or Asian girls- over boys

Question 7

Summary

Answer 7

‘Ideal pupil’ and ‘ideal learner’ characteristics- pupils who enter school already confident, fluent + familiar with learning- likely to be white or Indian or Asian, m/c, girls
Assumptions may change behaviour of pupils + learner identites