“Teachers think the kids around here, don't really want to learn”: Street-identified black men and women's attitudes toward teachers and schooling
Date
2022-12-21
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sociology Compass
Abstract
This street participatory action research project explored the reflective schooling experiences of street identified Black men and women (ages 18–35) in two small low-income neighborhoods. Secondary analysis of survey (N = 520) and interview (N = 46) data examined: (1) How are attitudes toward schooling and teachers affected by race, gender and age?; and (2) How do students utilize a street-identity as a site of resilience inside schools? Overall, street-identified study participants held positive attitudes toward schooling, but generally performed poorly in schools and had negative experiences with educators. No significance was found as a function of gender and age regarding attitudes toward schooling and attitudes toward teachers. Also, interview results, across gender and age, suggest school-related structural challenges and poor teacher-student relationships contributed to severe conflict between students and teachers; and between students. Interviewees argued some Black students internalized a street identity or became disruptive and even engaged in school violence as a protective mechanism to endure hostile schooling environments. Moreover, Street PAR is discussed as a method and intervention to improve student performance and resolve concerns between students and educators.
Description
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Payne, Y. A., Aviles, A. M., & Yates, N. A. (2022). “Teachers think the kids around here, don't really want to learn”: Street-identified black men and women's attitudes toward teachers and schooling. Sociology Compass, e13060. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.13060, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.13060. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. This article will be embargoed until 12/21/2024.
Keywords
deviance and social control, sociology, sociology of education, urban sociology, urban, rural and community sociology
Citation
Payne, Y. A., Aviles, A. M., & Yates, N. A. (2022). “Teachers think the kids around here, don't really want to learn”: Street-identified black men and women's attitudes toward teachers and schooling. Sociology Compass, e13060. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.13060