Class differences in achievement: Pupil subcultures

Class differences in achievement: Pupil subcultures

1. A group of pupils who share similar behaviour patterns and values different from mainstream views. They emerge as a response to labelling and streaming.

   • Colin Lacey (1970)
     • DIFFERENTIATION= the process by which teachers categorise pupils according to how they perceive their ability, attitude, and/or behaviour. Those deemed 'more able' are given high status by being placed in a high steam.
     • POLARISATION= pupils respond to streaming by moving towards one of two opposite poles or extremes. Lacey found streaming polarised boys into a pro-school and an anti-school subculture

2. Pro-school subculture= high streamed, middle-class, high status from academic success, committed to values of the school

3. Anti-school subculture= low streams; working class; failure leads to low self esteem and feeling like the school has undermined them; they invert the school values of hard work, obedience and punctuality; have a sabotage the system outlook

   • Hargreaves (1967) interviewed boys in secondary modern schools. The school viewed the boys in lower streams as triple failures. One solution to this was to form a group where high status went to those who flouted the school rules.

4. Woods (1981) argues that division between pro and anti-school subculture is simplistic there are a variety of pupil responses to the culture of the school.

   • INGRATIATION: follows schools norms and values 'teacher's pet'
   • RITUALISM: going through the motions and staying out of trouble
   • RETREATISM: daydreaming and mucking about
   • REBELLION: outright rejection of school

5. Furlong (1984)- pupils not committed to one response, they act differently to different teachers and subjects.