Mr Mirza
Assess the importance of school factors such as racism and pupils’ responses to racism in creating ethnic differences in educational achievement. (20 marks)
There is an obvious connection between educational achievement and ethnicity, and many sociologists believe that this is to do with two factors; Internal (school) factors and External (Out of School) factors. As a result both factors play their own part in the educational achievement of a pupil, however ethnicity is very difficult to measure as both internal factors and external factors are to be considered.
Many sociologists believe that internal factors play a major part as racism (discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior), happens within the school on a daily bases, from pupils and teachers, which can severely affect educational achievement. Pupils at a young age do not understand how offensive racism is and teachers are not always directly racist but are unintentionally racist. A very good example of this is labeling students which come as almost second nature to teachers, and people in general. For example if a teacher labels a student as “bright” then the student is more likely to stick to this label and achieve higher grades. Unfortunately this also works the opposite way. Teachers may label students due to their ethnic background without considering their actual level of cleverness. For example black students do not fit the idea pupils profile and may therefore be labeled as a “troublemaker”, leading them to not do as well as other ethnicities, such as British pupils.
Cecile Wright a sociologist who found that Asian pupils are a main target of labeling by their teachers. Teachers may speak down to them assuming that they cannot speak the English language properly as well as white pupils. Because of this they are more likely to be left out of class discussions and will therefore feel isolated. Wright explains that
There is an obvious connection between educational achievement and ethnicity, and many sociologists believe that this is to do with two factors; Internal (school) factors and External (Out of School) factors. As a result both factors play their own part in the educational achievement of a pupil, however ethnicity is very difficult to measure as both internal factors and external factors are to be considered.
Many sociologists believe that internal factors play a major part as racism (discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior), happens within the school on a daily bases, from pupils and teachers, which can severely affect educational achievement. Pupils at a young age do not understand how offensive racism is and teachers are not always directly racist but are unintentionally racist. A very good example of this is labeling students which come as almost second nature to teachers, and people in general. For example if a teacher labels a student as “bright” then the student is more likely to stick to this label and achieve higher grades. Unfortunately this also works the opposite way. Teachers may label students due to their ethnic background without considering their actual level of cleverness. For example black students do not fit the idea pupils profile and may therefore be labeled as a “troublemaker”, leading them to not do as well as other ethnicities, such as British pupils.
Cecile Wright a sociologist who found that Asian pupils are a main target of labeling by their teachers. Teachers may speak down to them assuming that they cannot speak the English language properly as well as white pupils. Because of this they are more likely to be left out of class discussions and will therefore feel isolated. Wright explains that