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ERIC Number: EJ1279511
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2154-6282
EISSN: N/A
Student Experiences of Socioeconomic School Integration in the Irish Secondary Context
Gleasure, Seán G.
i.e.: inquiry in education, v12 n2 Article 8 2020
This research sought to investigate the experiences of students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds who chose to attend socioeconomically integrated secondary schools in Ireland. Socioeconomic integration is the practice whereby students from varying socioeconomic backgrounds are integrated into heterogeneous school settings in order to diversify their socioeconomic composition. While the literature indicates consistent academic benefits of the practice for low-SES students, uncertainties remain surrounding their psychosocial experience. To better understand such uncertainties, this research embodied a case study approach, investigating the socioeconomic integration experiences of two low-SES families (n = 4) through online surveys and semi-structured interviews. The responses ascertained from case study accounts were subsequently presented to individuals with knowledge in the field (n = 7) during expert interviews. Triangulated findings indicate that the experiences of participating low-SES students were generally positive, with the development of friendships, extra-curricular participation, and subtle teacher vigilance being highlighted as advantageous. Nevertheless, participants also indicated significant tensions associated with the practice, including desires for assimilation, sentiments of isolation, possible dilution of identity, and rare instances of peer-condescension. This paper presents practical opportunities to improve the experiences of low-SES students in socioeconomically integrated schools, while also offering valuable lines of inquiry for future research.
Center for Inquiry in Education. National Louis University, 122 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603. Tel: 800-443-5522 x2277; e-mail: digitalcommons@nl.edu; Web site: https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/ie/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A