labelling+teacher racism (ethnic differences)

• Black pupils are more likely to be disciplined by teachers for the same behaviour as white pupils
• Teachers have racialized expectations that black pupils will misbehave


  They misinterpret black pupils' behaviour as disruptive
• Misinterpretation of black pupils' behaviour


  Leads to further conflict between white teachers and black pupils
• The conflict comes from teachers' racial stereotypes, not the pupils' actual behaviour
• Black pupils have higher exclusion rates because schools see them as a threat and label them negatively
• Black pupils are more likely to be "internally excluded" from parts of the curriculum, affecting their learning
• Ideal pupil identity


  White, middle-class, with a masculine identity and normal sexuality
• Pathologised pupil identity


  Asian, deserving poor with a feminised identity and asexual/oppressed sexuality
• Demonised pupil identity


  Black or white, working-class with a hyper-sexualised identity. Pupil is peer-led, culturally deprived and an underachiever
• Even successful Chinese pupils can be pathologised by teachers
• Teachers stereotype Chinese families as tight/close-knit to explain passive pupils, and wrongly assume they are middle-class or that South Asian girls are oppressed by their families
• Black pupils are more likely to be placed in lower streams due to teacher stereotypes about their behaviour
• Asian pupils are also victims of teacher labelling and marginalisation in the classroom
• Teachers hold ethno-centric views that British culture and English language are superior
• Variety of black boys' responses to teacher racism and labelling


  • Rebels
  • Conformists
  • Retreatists
  • Innovators
• Only a small minority of black pupils fit the "rebel" stereotype that teachers have
• Ambitious black girls faced with teacher racism had their career aspirations discouraged, despite using strategies to avoid racism
• Some black girls used their anger about low ability stereotypes as motivation to succeed educationally, refusing to conform to teachers' negative labels
• Asian A-level students also did not always accept the negative labels teachers gave them