Topic 6 - educational attainment + ethnicity Flashcards
Ethnicity?
Britain has a long history of immigration, with both white and non-white communities present for centuries. Early migration came from Ireland, France, and Poland due to war and religious upheaval. Non-white migrants, like the Somali and Chinese, arrived as sailors in the 1830s. Slavery played a role in Britain’s economy until 1833, contributing to African and West Indian communities. Post-WWII, migrants from former British colonies helped rebuild Britain, including former soldiers. Later, skilled migrants arrived from Africa, and more recently, Eastern Europeans moved due to EU labor mobility.
The link between attainment + ethnicity
High achievers and disengaged students exist in all ethnic groups. White children are seen as the norm due to their majority in schools, not because of inherent differences in attainment.
Functionalist?
Functionalists argue that some ethnic minorities are predisposed to underachieve in school, often attributing this to cultural or genetic factors.
Marxists
Marxists prioritize class over ethnicity, viewing ethnic minority underachievement as a consequence of their lower class status.
Interactionists
Interactionists emphasize labeling, highlighting teacher and institutional racism as key factors in ethnic minority underachievement.
Feminists?
Feminists argue that ethnic minority girls face a double disadvantage due to both sexism within their communities and racism in society.
The new right?
The New Right aligns with Functionalists but highlights the underachievement of boys, particularly West Indian boys, attributing it to a lack of male role models due to high single-parenthood rates.
Explaining ethnic attainment in education
Genetic theories of ethnic differences?
There is little evidence supporting genetic differences in intelligence among ethnic groups. However, New Right thinkers like Murray, Hernstein, and Eysenck have proposed this idea, relying on outdated intelligence tests. This theory is further challenged by the fact that Black African children often outperform White children, while Black Caribbean pupils tend to underachieve.
Poverty and class
Strand (1999) found that both White and Black disadvantaged children in London schools failed to make expected progress, while Chinese and Indian pupils outperformed predictions. Beyond social class, factors like attending low-performing schools, low teacher expectations, and behavioral stereotypes contribute to underachievement. However, the worst-performing groups are White Traveler and White working-class pupils, suggesting racism alone does not fully explain ethnic disparities in education.
English additional language
Around 10% of students in English schools speak English as an additional language (EAL), using another language at home. EAL rates are highest among Bangladeshi children (90%) and lower for Black Caribbean pupils (7%). EAL students are more likely to come from low-income backgrounds (31%) compared to 15% of non-EAL students. While they start at a disadvantage in infant school, they tend to make rapid progress as they develop English proficiency.
Cultural differences
Cultural differences impact educational attainment. Gypsy/Roma traveler children often face disadvantages, while Chinese pupils consistently achieve high results. Chinese parents strongly emphasize education, with even those on free school meals outperforming the national average. Their strict, high-expectation parenting style, often called “tiger parenting,” contributes to this success.
Racism?
The Swann Report (1985) recommended promoting multiculturalism after finding institutional racism in schools. Sociologists like Gilroy, Sewell, Modood, and Mirza highlighted high levels of racism among teachers. Cecile Wright (1992) found that while teachers opposed racism, they held stereotypes—seeing Asian girls as submissive and Black Caribbean boys as low-achieving and disruptive. In 2013, Childline received 1,400 reports of racist bullying, particularly affecting young Muslims. Stuart Hall argued that racism in schools led Black Caribbean boys to reject education, calling it a “culture of resistance.”
Ethnocentric curriculum?
The ethnocentric curriculum prioritizes one’s own culture, often neglecting the contributions of non-white people, with Black individuals frequently portrayed through negative stereotypes, like slavery. This can harm the self-esteem of non-white students. Regarding single parenthood, African Caribbean communities have higher rates of lone parenthood, leading to financial hardship. The New Right criticizes single mothers, linking them to social issues, while Wright argues that single mothers can be positive role models for young women.
