Assess the view that children from ethnic minorities under-achieve in education because of discrimination and stereo typing in schools.

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Sociology Essay

Q.

Assess the view that children from ethnic minorities under-achieve in education because of discrimination and stereotyping in schools (20)

A.

This view of whether children from ethnic minorities achieve less in school is based upon whether schools provide educational equality. The Education Act of 1944 perpetuates the idea that the British education system is a force prompting social mobility based on merit. However it is clear that certain characteristics of students such as race or gender can influence educational achievement.

When looking at teachers and how they approach students from ethnic minorities Wright (1992) found that staffs in four multiracial schools were committed to the idea of educational opportunity. But, some assumptions they held led to some black children being ‘racialised’. These children were unintentionally discriminated against because teachers held beliefs about racial attributes. For example, Asian girls were seen as quiet and submissive and this rendered them invisible in class, also Afro-Caribbean’s were seen as both to have both behavioural problems and a low academic potential; this resulted in conflict with teachers. As of this conflict with teachers these students were more likely to be placed in lower sets and also placed on courses, which would not fit their needs. Overall, West Indians are underachievers. Asians show average patterns, although Bangladeshis seriously underachieve. The danger here is that teachers form stereotypical views of these groups. All of this discrimination would consequently lead to a poorer education and worse exam results than others.

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As well as discrimination and stereotyping by teachers within schools there are also many ‘outside’ explanations on why children from ethnic-minorities under achieve in education. One of these reasons is linguistic deprivation; it is easy to understand that some student will experience difficulties in learning because English is not their first language. There is some evidence that speakers of black British English may be labelled as less able because of the form of language that they use. A consequence is that such students may well feel discriminated against and actually use their language to ‘resist’ schooling, (Mac and Gail 1988). ...

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