Subcultures and Pupil Responses

Like Fuller, Mirza studied ambitious black girls who faced teacher racism.

Found that racist teachers discouraged black pupils from being ambitious through the kind of advice they gave them about careers and options. 

3 types of teacher racism 

The colour-blind; teachers who believe all pupils are equal but in practice allow racism to go unchallenged.

The liberal chauvinists; teachers who believe black pupils are culturally deprived and who have low expectations of them. 

The overt racists; teachers who believe 'black students' are inferior and actively discriminate agaisnt them. 

Mirza's findings contrast Fuller and mac an Ghail by the girls being selective about who they asked to help them and by not taking part in lessons they restricted opportunities and were therefore unsuccessful. 

Sewell (1998)

Study of a boys secondary school, he found that many teachers had a stereotype of black machismo which sees all black boys as rebellous, anti-authority and anti school. 

Using Merton's classifications of conforming and deviance, he identifies 4 responses to racism. 

'Labeling is the main factor that affects ethnic differences in achievement within education' 

Wright suggests that it's dependent on whether teachers have racialised expectations. 

Fuller shows that negative labeling doesn't always lead to failure and Mac an Ghail show that labeling does not always produce a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Rebels

• These were the most visible and influential group, they were often excluded from school. They conformed to the stereotype of the 'black macho lad'. 

Behaviours:

• Un-motivated 
  
• Naughty
• Disrespectful 
• Disruptive 

The Conformists:

• These were the largest group, they were keen to succeed and accepted the school's goals. They were anxious to avoid being stereotyped by their teachers or their peers. 

Behaviours:

• Hard working
• Respectful
• Motivated 
• Well mannered

The Retreatists:

• Small minority of individuals who were disconnected from both school and bkack subcultures.

Behaviours:

• Anti-social 
• Don't contribute
• Disengaged

The Innovators:

• Pro education but anti school, they valued educational success bujt did not seek the approval of teachers. They conformed only as far as school work was concerned. 

Behaviours:

• Hard working
• Happy to comply to school work
• Independent
• Won't follow orders unless it's linked to their education.