Active learning ideas
This topic shifts the focus from broad social structures to the daily interactions within the classroom. Students investigate how teacher expectations, labelling, and the self-fulfilling prophecy can determine a pupil's success or failure. They also explore how students respond to these pressures by forming subcultures, ranging from pro-school groups to anti-school 'lads'.
Activity 01
In small groups, students act out a three-stage scenario: a teacher making an initial judgement based on appearance, the student reacting to that treatment, and the final 'master status' being formed. They then discuss how the outcome could have been changed at each stage.
How do teacher expectations shape pupil identities?
Activity 02
Set up stations for different subcultures (e.g., Willis's 'Lads', Mac an Ghaill's 'macho lads', or Fuller's high-achieving Black girls). At each station, students must identify the group's values and whether they are a 'pro' or 'anti' school response.
What are pro- and anti-school subcultures?
Activity 03
Students define the difference between setting and streaming. They then discuss with a partner how being placed in a 'bottom set' might affect a student's self-esteem and their relationship with teachers.
How does setting and streaming affect student outcomes?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
A label always leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Students often forget about 'label rejection'. Margaret Fuller’s research on Black girls showed that some students work harder to disprove a negative label. Using case study analysis helps students see that the self-fulfilling prophecy is a common outcome, but not an inevitable one.
Anti-school subcultures are just about 'being lazy'.
Sociologists like Paul Willis argue these subcultures are often a sophisticated form of resistance to a system that students feel has already rejected them. Peer teaching sessions where students explain the 'logic' of a subculture can help move beyond simplistic moral judgements.
Methods used in this brief
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