Class differences in Achievement (2) Internal Factors

What does it mean to label someone in an educational context?

To attach a meaning or definition to them, often based on stereotypes.

What did Howard Becker's study reveal about teachers' perceptions of students?

Becker Interviewed 60 Teachers in Chicago and found out they judged students against an 'ideal pupil' image, often favoring middle-class students. Work, Conduct and Appearance informed their judgement.

What was the key difference Howard Becker found in his study?

Becker found that middle class student were closer to the 'ideal' while working class students were further away from the 'ideal' regarded as badly behaved.

What was the finding of Aaron Cicourel and John Kitsuse regarding school counselors?

It was study of American School Counsellors and found that labelling can be disadvantage to working class students. The Counsellors often assessed students' suitability for higher education based on social class/race rather than ability.

What were the Counsellors telling the m/c and w/c pupils differently?

Counsellors were telling white m/c students that they were perfectly capable and able to do well in higher education. Whereas when they were interacting with ethnic minorities w/c students they would often say "have you thought about apprenticeship or going straight to work. So a sense of Discrimination or Prejudice was against them w/c.

What was Ray Rist study?

Studied an American kindergarten where teachers used information on student homes and backgrounds to separate them into different tables.

How did Ray Rist categorize students in his study of kindergarten?

• 'Tigers' (middle-class, fast learners, neat and tidy, received most encouragement and support.)

• 'Cardinals/Clowns' (working-class, lower-level work, read as a group rather as individuals, were given less opportunities to show their abilities.)

What is the Self-fulfilling Prophecy in education?

It is a process where a teacher's label influences a student's performance, leading them to fulfill that label.

What are the three stages of the Self-fulfilling Prophecy?

1) Teacher labels a pupil (e.g. "your smart" or "you're not smart")

2) Teacher treats the pupil accordingly (e.g. More work/attention to 'ideal pupils' and opposite for not 'ideal pupils')

3) Pupil internalizes the label. (e.g. "I'm am smart" or "I'm not smart"

What is streaming in the context of education?

The practice of grouping students of similar ability into the same class or stream. "Bright students top stream" "Thick students bottom stream"

What was Douglas's finding regarding IQ and streaming?

Students in lower streams experienced a decline in IQ over time, while those in higher streams saw an increase in IQ.

What problem did lower streams students face?

They were denied access to the same curriculum e.g. not put in for higher level exams.

What is a pupil subculture and how is it developed?

A group of pupils who share similar values, often forming in response to teacher labeling and streaming and it is developed through Differentiation and Polarisation.

What is differentiation in education?

The process by which teachers categorize pupils based on perceived ability.

What is polarisation in the context of pupil responses to streaming?

The process where students move towards pro-school or anti-school cultures based on their streaming.

What characterizes pro-school pupils?

They are typically middle-class, committed to school values, and gain status through academic success, teachers see them as 'ideal pupils'.

What characterizes anti-school pupils?

Typically working class pupils, They often suffer a loss of self-esteem and reject school values, engaging in behaviors like truancy.

What did David Hargreaves find about students who performed well in primary school?

They often joined anti-school subcultures and failed in secondary school due to streaming.

What was Stephen Ball's finding regarding comprehensive schools and streaming?

Abolishing streaming led to the disappearance of pupil polarisation and subcultures.

What are the implications of teacher labeling on student performance?

Labeling can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy where middle-class students outperform working-class students.

What is a limitation of labeling theory in education? "Overarching Claim"

It suggests that underachievement is caused by teachers labelling leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy, leading to students joining anti-school subcultures guaranteeing failure which is known as "Overarching Claim".