Ethnic minority subcultures in schools – revision notes
African-Caribbean male subcultures
- Gaine and George (1999) found African-Caribbean subcultures develop from both factors inside and outside school
- Within schools teachers tend to see African-Caribbean boys as aggressive and disruptive
- the researchers noted how these labels came from a misinterpretation of African-Caribbean subcultures – such as the way they walk and dress
- this results in African-Caribbean students being singled out more for punishment
- In contrast to the above Tony Sewell, 1997, research found African-Caribbean subcultures in schools to be more complex than solely anti-school
- Sewell’s research in a boys-only comprehensive school uncovered for distinct responses:
- conformist – 41% of students behaved well and were hard working
- innovator – 35% of students accepted the need to be educated but distanced themselves from the school processes and teachers
- retreatist – 6% were loners who kept out of the way
- rebels – 18% rejected schooling and treated Conformists with contempt
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