Studies: Why ethnic minorities are underachieving

Found that teachers percieved and treated ethnic minority children differently from whie children.

• Asian children seen as a problem but ignored and recieved least attention and were excluded from classroom discussions

        BUT

• Teachers also found that Asian pupils were more diciplined and highly motivated

• African Carribean boys were expected to behave badly and the attention recieved was mostly negative.
• Their behaviour was seen as aggressive, disobedient and disruptive. 
• Mostly singled out for critisism 
• Actions done by this ethnic minority was ignored in other children

• Did 2 years of observation and interviews
• Teachers saw actions of African Carribean pupils as a threat to them when none intended 
• More likely to be critisised 
• Punnishment causes tension 

• Boys demoted to bottom sets for what was seen as bad behaviour and having an attitude
• Reacted by resisting discrimination by forming an anti-school subculture called 'Rastaheads' 

• Followed 50 working class Banglideshi/Pakistani teenagers who initially spoike poor English- Boys and girls reported;
• Racist behaviour by teachers e.g. ignoring them in class 
• Not believing them when complaining about white pupil racism 
• Felt teachers have a low expectation of them 
• Felt invisible and didnt try to pronounce names properly