Social class and Anti-school subcultures

Question 1

What are anti-school subcultures

Answer 1

• groups of students with norms and values that oppose the ethos of the school
• other subcultures based on gender and ethnicity

Question 2

Why do working class students rebel

Answer 2

• process of setting and streaming - lower sets are like a psychological prison - Boaler
• denied status through legitimate means - opt for alternative status hierarchy
• rejection of working-class habitus - symbolic violence

Question 3

How do anti school subcultures form

Answer 3

• Lacey - Hightown Grammar - differentiation and polarisation of students through setting and streaming
• Willis - Learning to Labour - fatalistic reactions to education
• Mac an Ghail - Macho lads - excessive discipline cause rejection of norms and values

Question 4

Impacts of anti-school subcultures

Answer 4

• rejection of education as a means of success
• reinforce fatalistic attitudes of working-class students
• exclusions and disciplinary actions

Question 5

Evaluations

Answer 5

• In school factors stereotyping, labelling, teacher and pupil interactions
• Deterministic - anti school does not mean anti-education
• is it in school factors or external factors that influence behaviour
• most students conform to norms and values
• links to further deviance