ERIC Number: EJ853204
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1478-8497
EISSN: N/A
Are Schools in Tune with Disaffected Youth?
Hope, Tony
International Journal on School Disaffection, v4 n2 p28-34 2006
The establishment of the UK government's OFSTED (school inspection service), published league tables, standardised testing, the literacy and numeracy strategy, imposed external targets for improvement, performance related pay and the gifted and talented programme, show the present government's concerns with educational improvement. Schools have tended to concentrate on those young people who will be successful (Blyth and Milner, 1993; TES, 3-4-98). This is inevitable, for within the current educational climate, emphasis on academic performance leads to local and national credibility. However, for some young people, academic achievement is not always possible. For them, the way forward is to seek attention through aspects of poor behaviour. Such young people can be loosely labelled "disaffected". The present three year study, which started in September 2000 and was completed in July 2003, was conducted in a comprehensive high school in the Midlands (for ages 11-18). It seeks to add to the debate that "experiential" National Curriculum subjects which include opportunities for practical activity, in this case music, have potential for re-engaging the "disaffected" young person. Furthermore, it suggests that the drive for academic excellence pursued by the present government is ill-advised if it is seen to be at the expense of more creative subjects.
Descriptors: National Curriculum, High Schools, Student Attitudes, Educational Improvement, Inspection, Adolescents, Early Adolescents, Academic Achievement, Secondary School Students, Music Education, Antisocial Behavior, Behavior Problems, Student Behavior, Interpersonal Communication, Interpersonal Relationship, Learner Engagement, Student Participation, Foreign Countries
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. Clemson University, 209 Martin Street, Clemson, SC 29631. Tel: 864-656-2599; Fax: 864-656-0136; e-mail: ndpc@clemson.edu; Web site: http://www.dropoutprevention.org/ndpcdefault.htm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A