Education- Internal Social Class Factors Flashcards
Outline Labelling theory.
Teachers attach a label to students that have little reflection on their ability or aptitude. Instead, they form a label based on how closely the student aligns with the concept of an “ideal pupil”. Becker says this interaction between teacher and students leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy where the student internalises the label.
What is labelling’s impact on achievement?
Leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Margret Fuller’s research into black girls in London found a rejection of their label. Their response to the negative label was to knuckle down and achieve higher grades than expected.
Evaluation of labelling theory.
Deterministic
Focuses on negative effects.
The theory attributes too much “teacher agency”, whereby they have too much autonomy of student education.
Structural sociologists might argue that the school themselves forces them to attribute labels.
Teacher training programmes to minimise labeling.
Outline Self-fulfilling prophecy
When the student internalises the label given to them by the school or their teachers. This can be positive or negative.
What is self-fulfilling prophecy’s impact on achievement?
Negative labels, usually put on working class students, can lead to students forming an anti-school subculture and becoming low achievers.
Positive labels, usually put on middle class students due to ideal pupil characteristics, leads to a pro-school subculture which helps them achieve.
Evaluation of self-fulfilling prophecy.
Deterministic
Margret Fuller- Label can be rejected
Outline setting/streaming.
Setting is the placement of students into their ability group for individual subjects.
Streaming is the placement of students into their ability groups across all subjects.
What impact does setting/streaming have on education?
Working class students are typically put in a lower set which reduces self-esteem and therefore underachieve. It also limits their opportunities to improve.
Evaluation of setting/streaming.
It allows for higher achievers to have their ability stretched out whilst low achievers have additional support which in turn increases achievement.
Outline pupil subcultures.
Anti-school subculture:
Lower streams
Rejection of school values
Truanting
Disruption
Not doing homework
Pro-school subculture:
Committed to school values
Gain approval and status through educational success
What effect do student subcultures have on education?
Working class students are typically in an anti-school subculture, where they seek approval through disruption and therefore do not achieve.
Evaluation of pupil subcultures.
Not all students because part of pro and anti school subcultures.
Outline pupil’s class identity.
Habitus- Learned or taken for granted ways of thinking, being or acting that a shared by a certain social class.
Includes their tastes, outlook on life, expectations and what is normal for “people like us”.
What effect does pupil’s identify have on education?
Middle class students have the ability to set the habitus of the school, meaning they have an advantage.
Working class Habitus is not valued by the education system and they feel like they have to change it to achieve - it is not desirable.
Evaluation of pupil identity.
Postmodernists argue that class doesn’t have as much of an impact as it used to. There is a mix of culture within students.
