school processes - an ethnographic study

school processes - an ethnographic study Research conducted by: cecile Wright & Edited by Woods & Hammersley Critiqued by: Molly Wike

Nature of the research: Inequality experienced by ethnic minority students in school and work. Aiming to observe how schooling affects the progress and aspiration of ethnic minority pupils.

Problem: School system against ethnic minority students

Approach:

Researcher used an ethnographic approach. Conducted series of surveys with participants at two schools in England (Midlands region):

Teachers
Headmaster
Year Heads
Afro-Caribbean Students
60 pupils - 4th/5th year; racially mixed
16 black pupils
Caribbean pupils
Afro-Caribbean male pupils
Deputy headmaster

Role of Researcher:

Third-party observer

Methods

Data Collection:

Surveys
Conversations
Interviews

Stance of the Researcher:

Attitudes and stereotypes held by teachers may have an affect on pupils.
Internal structure of these two schools and their operation sometimes have differential effects on the pupils of ethnic minority groups.

Reflexivity & Validity:

Hypotheses not true for all schools
Observations tentative not definitive
Only observed at 2 schools in Midlands area

Themes:

Lack of defined standards and disciplines
Black kids treated badly
Dissatisfaction with school organization
Fear
Behavioral Issues
European shift in teaching

Merits:

Recorded data appeared ethical
Relevant issue
Site addresses cultural issues at schools
Study can be reproduced
Researcher interviewed wide span of people groups
Attempted to immerse in culture of school
Significant contribution
Written structure

Conclusions:

Strong explanation of participants' responses throughout study
Research question not explicitly answered

Based on the themes drawn from conversations we can assume that students of ethnic minority groups are treated unfairly at these two schools and it does affect their academic performance in more ways than one.

Study source:

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RIeDg13UvecC&oi=fnd&pg=PA191&dq=Gender+and+Ethnicity+in+Schools+cecile+wright&ots=SZ_aG38w4P&sig=BbMIzpd1x6u2FbeAdsX73VR5LAo#v=onepage&q=Gender%20and%20Ethnicity%20in%20Schools%20cecile%20wright&f=false

Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by kevin dooley - "School bus" • mozlase__ - "still life school retro" • Devanath - "indian boys team" • Devanath - "indian boys team" • MichaelGaida - "architecture sit building" • WikiImages - "discrimination racism people of color" • justine warrington - "school"