3 - edu - labelling/streaming

• • Mostly better grades for white middle class with similar abilities to other classes and races.
  • National statistics online - 35% working class pass GCSEs and 57% of middle class.
• Jefferis (2002) found the gap in middle class and working class has widened from 1958 to today. The main cause of this may be differentiation between classes.
• Interactionists believe pupils place meanings on situations which influence the way they behave. Becker (1971) studied the labelling process by asking teachers to evaluate their 'ideal' student. This student was usually middle class and working class was seen as badly behaved.
• Merton found the teachers who labelled the working class children as badly behaved also had lower expectations for these children in class. This formed a self-fulfilling prophecy for them as they only reached the potential their teachers had labelled them as able to reach.
• Halo Effect


  The children were trapped by their teacher's perceptions
• Streaming


  According to perceptions of ability - working class children were given less challenging work and lost their self-esteem.
• Ball (1981)


  Top bands were higher social classes. They were given higher expectations, taught differently and had more access to knowledge. Working class children got the message that they were seen as 'no-hopers'.
• Keddie (1971)


  Not given depth of knowledge to achieve higher levels so had to sit foundation papers.
• Hargreaves (1967)


  Found boys in lower streams saw themselves as triple failures. They failed their 11+ exam, put into low streams and labelled 'worthless louts' by teachers.