Unit 3 - Section B: Education - THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS - Evaluation - Interactionism

Question 1

Becker

Answer 1

Suggested that teachers see middle class pupils as closest to the ‘ideal pupil’ in terms of performance, conduct, appearance and attitude. Whilst working class pupils are furthest from this. For many teachers, these criteria of attitude, appearance, etc were more important in making judgements about pupils than ability or attendance. The labels applied by teachers to pupils shape the nature and quality of the interaction between pupil and teacher - either consciously or unconsciously communicates the label to pupil. Pupils will react positively or negatively to teacher judgements and this may have a self-fulfilling prophecy effect e.g. pupil internalises label and conforms to prediction.