The hottest issue in education: underachievement in white working class boys by Samuel Mack-Poole.

The hottest issue in education: underachievement in white working class boys.

By Samuel Mack-Poole

It is with a certain sense of apprehension that I start this essay. It is, after all, a foray into a controversial topic; the tragedy is that this issue has been heavily politicised by polarised sections of society for years, and so the educational essence of it has stagnated. Nonetheless, the basics of the issue are this: as a demographic cohort, white working class boys are the lowest achievers in society with regard to educational success.

'Only 24% of white British schoolboys gain five A*-Cs including English and Maths in their end of secondary school exams - making them the worst performing of the main ethnic groups in the country.' (source)

The question which should be on your lips, quite frankly, should be this: why?

I mean, seriously...why?

 What is so endemic in white working class boys that causes such endemic levels of underachievement?  Why is that their peers, whether they be Chinese (whom achieve thrice as much despite parental income being equal) black or Bangladeshi, and yet male, outperform them?

Having  mused anecdotally upon this, I can only come to some hollow conclusions. Is there a patronising hatred of the white working class in this country? Would you say something about a poor white person (such as calling them a ‘chav’?) which you would never say about another race of people? Why is class something which isn’t taboo in our society? The questions can go on ad infinitim but there are other issues at stake as well. After all, the blame for this under performance cannot be purely blamed on bourgeois snobbery, however tempting it is.

Although I’m somewhat loathe to do it, we must critique white working class culture itself. I think, that, controversial as it is, there are real probing questions we need to ask. First and foremost, how much respect is accorded by this stratum of society for education? Is it seen as a tool for social mobility, or is it regarded as part of a system which does little for the working poor? Thus, and it has to be asked, how many white working class parents sit down and read with their children?

Please have a read of the following quote. It’s comprised of a social class study, admittedly based in the USA, but I would bet my bottom dollar that its veracity applies to the UK, too.

‘Extrapolating from their observations, Hart and Risley found that in a professional family an average child would be exposed to 215,000 words a week. The average child in a working class home would be exposed to 125,000 words. In the family where welfare was the main means of support an average child would be exposed to only 62,000 words per week.

Not surprisingly these differences in exposure were correlated with measures of vocabulary size. Children exposed to more words developed a bigger stock of words. Without educational intervention, these early differences set the stage for lifelong differences in vocabulary.’ (source)

Evidently, economic poverty translates to educational poverty, and the entire system meaninglessly replicates itself like the now infamous visicous cycle quote from Malcom X.

Now, please let me equivocate: I am not talking of individuals, but of social trends. Evidently, the parental models of 24% of white working class boys work very well with regard to educational support. Thus, I’m not stating that all white working class parents get it wrong with their boys, and nor am I seeking to demonise them. That would be remiss of me as an educator.

However, I would love to support them. What is it about Chinese working class culture that causes such high levels of success with boys from that community? Are there lessons to be learned?

Whatever the multifarious factors within this slippery slope of controversy, educators need to do their bit to eve.n the playing field. Otherwise, what is the point? I say this as a teacher of ten years, and I’m asking this as a genuine question: did you go into teaching only to help middle-class students? I’m pretty sure you didn’t. Now, I’m not saying that we are social workers, but we do have pastoral responsibilities, and the results of all students matter.

Personally, I am not satisfied with churning out the status quo. I want those boys to be the first in the families to go to university, or the first to get a qualified trade. I want them to be every bit as successful as anyone else with class privileges. It may sound very rose tinted, but if you don’t have ideals, then you shouldn’t go into teaching.

Having been brought up by a teenage single mother, and a father who lived on Stockwell Park Estate, I think I have some insight into this issue, but it is very much society’s problem. Nonetheless, with Ofsted, the DfE, and, more than likely, your SLT (if you are a teacher) making this a priority in recent years, teachers are trying to narrow the gap.

That’s why I made the following table to formulate some strategies for white working class boys. Let me be clear: it’s not a magic pill, or fool-proof. However, it’s something which helps me make choices with these boys on a daily basis. In honesty, I don’t have engagement issues with WWCB, but there is still a gap there. But I will do everything I can to narrow it. It starts with me, and I will never give up.

 Documentation for WWCB:

Strategy	Reasoning
The Ten Minute Rule	Boys have notoriously poor concentration levels. Thus, it is salient to take this into account. Remember this with videos – your students will shut off after 10 minutes. If you have a longer video, chop it into two parts with a fun quiz in the middle.
Competition	Humans are, by their evolutionary nature, competitive; boys are especially so. Build competition into your lesson, whether it’s groups vs groups, individuals vs individuals, or the students vs you.
Prizes	I’ve said it many times before, but boys react very well to dog psychology. So, reward your boys with prizes (when they are deserving). Reinforce good behaviour (answering questions correctly) with a cookie.
Visual learning	Images are understood 90% faster than words. Maximise this – try to back all of your powerpoints up with visuals. Use them in dingbats, use them as starters.
Build relationships with them!	These boys don’t really buy into subjects; they don’t usually come from academic backgrounds. So, the fact you’re a teacher really doesn’t amaze them. To get into their heads, take an interest in them. Ask them what team they support (not to generalise, but 9/10 WWCB love football), whether they watch popular TV shows, and don’t be afraid to have a sense of humour. Tell your students that you like them (I love this class/ this class is my favourite) and that you want the best for them (you are important, your life is important, your grades are important). Welcome them at the door, during the register -- get in their heads!
Keep them busy	I try to keep my pace quick. If these boys think they have ample time, they don’t use it well. They usually end up hitting each other/ talking about inappropriate subjects.  The devil makes work for idle thumbs. The ultimate way of manipulating their behaviour is through excellent planning; they’re totally unaware of it, but you have so much impact on them.
Engagement	Be honest with yourself – is your work fun? Not to you, to your WWCB? If it’s really dull, expect poor behaviour. Storyboard things where you would make them take a whole page of notes. Use silent bingo where you would get them writing a ten line answer for a plenary (within reason, as extended writing is what Ofsted wants).
Get the balance right between internet innovation and routine	Don’t be afraid to try something new. We live in the internet age; there are plenty of great ideas out there. Go on the TES, have a look. Why are some people’s resources/ideas so much better than yours? It’s because you’re one person, and the collective intelligence exceeds yours by a long-shot.  Novelty is a wonderful thing, but your boys, like puppies, need routine.
Get some guided literacy intervention in for white working class boys!	Okay, I get it! Some boys don’t like reading, right? No! That’s a cop out. Get them something they’re actually interested in reading. Get these boys some football articles, or formula one, or fishing (okay, I know I just reeled off some working class stereotypes there), but I’ve done it, and working class boys will read something that they’re interested in. It’s just probably not going to be Jane Eyre.