Unit 3 - Section B: Differential Achievement - Social Class - Inside: Interactionist

Question 1

Becker

Answer 1

Teachers see middle class pupils as closest to the ‘ideal’ pupil in terms of performance, conduct, appearance, attitude, working class furthest. These criteria were more important for making judgements than ability or attendance. Labels applied shape nature and quality of interaction between teacher and pupil - consciously/unconsciously communicates label to pupil, who reacts positively/negatively that may have self-fulfilling prophecy. WC students may be labelled as ‘non-achievers’ or deviant, leading to lack of achievement.

Question 2

Keddie

Answer 2

Streaming (grouping students based on ability), found teachers’ expectations being less for those in bottom sets, undermining quality of teaching. Streaming had profound effect on teacher attitude and practice: ‘A’ streamers = trusted to work with minimum supervision, contributed to class. ‘C’ streamers = constant social control, development of anti-school subcultures, lived down to labels.

Question 3

Hargreaves

Answer 3

1967 - 2 streams of boys in secondary modern school. Selection of streams closely related to behaviour, top streams rewarded for behaviour when conformed. Lower stream boys felt unable to achieve high status, sort alternative status from peers - formed anti-school subcultures. Increased polarisation, effective teachers assigned to top streams. Subcultural acceptance important in bottom streamers, more than occasional praise. Process:

• Speculation - initial guesses on ability based on appearance and discipline.
• Working Hypothesis - interaction - develop theories about ‘type’ of student.
• Elaboration - initial ‘hypothesis’ tested, either confirm or reject based on observation.
• Stabilisation - feels know student, interpret everything based on judgement and interactions.

Question 4

Abrahams

Answer 4

Interconnection of several factors e.g. setting, labelling, subcultures for why students may underachieve. Dominant classes and gender ideologies of society are promoted in education by teachers, who subconsciously label. Trainee teachers need specific training, to recognise label occurs, leading to underachievement of WC students. Streaming should be stopped.