Intelligence: controversial (racist?) notions (Eysenck, Jensen, Hernstein & Murray)
Outside school factors: material deprivation; social class background; gender; street culture (Sewell); high number of single parent, female-headed families
Inside school factors: institutional & cultural racism (Coard, Gilborn); setting & streaming (Gilborn & Youdell); language (Labov, Mac an Ghaill); self-motivation of girls (Fuller, Mirza); lack of minority teacher role models; labelling & self-fulfilling prophecy (Connolly); ethnocentric curriculum; high levels of exclusions; teacher stereotyping (Wright)
Differential attainment between & within ethnic groups
Sociological theory: Marxism – ideological function of failing minority students distraction from real cause of white insecurity – capitalist system Weberian – institutional racism as system pre-dates multiculturalism need to improve minority student status with role models & multicultural curriculum
Maximum target time for q1-5: 25 min
Read information above then answer the following questions using your textbook & notes.
1 Which ethnic groups are the most successful in British education system? 1 mark
Chinese and Indians
2 What was the basic argument of Herrnstein & Murray? 2 marks
Argue that the lack of male role model at home for many African boys may encourage them to turn to an anti-educational macho gang-culture. The high rate of lone parenthood and a lack of positive male role models lead to underachievement of some minority pupils.
3 What criticisms have sociologists made of Herrnstein & Murray’s findings. 3 marks
They found that