Knowing children and young people as pupils
A book by June Gordon emphasises the approach adopted in this section where we advocate familiarisation with the cultures and communities of children. Gordon sees this type of inquiry as crucial to teaching:
- Gordon, J. (2002) Beyond the Classroom Walls. Ethnographic Inquiry as Pedagogy, London: RoutledgeFalmer
There are many interesting books on children’s culture, friendships and perspectives in primary and secondary schools. Devine promotes primary pupils ‘speaking for themselves’, whilst Rudduck and McIntyre summarise extensive cross-sectoral work on ‘pupil consultation’:
- Devine, D. (2003) Children, Power and Schooling. The Social Structuring of Childhood in the Primary School. Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham.
- Rudduck, J. and McIntyre, D. (2007) Improving Learning Through Consulting Pupils. London: Routledge. (see also Reading 1.3)
For detailed case studies of children’s developing identities and careers through schooling, see:
- Pollard, A. and Filer, A. (1999) The Social World of Pupil Career: Strategic Biographies through Primary School. London: Cassell. (Reading 1.2)
And for one of many analyses of secondary school experiences see:
- Smyth, J. and McInerney, P. (2012) From Silent Witnesses to Active Agents: Student Voice in Re-engaging with Learning. New York: Peter Lang.
The following suggestions explore our understandings of children as pupils, their identities, pupil ‘careers’, their culture, views of themselves and views of teachers. Firstly we present suggestions covering a variety of aspects of pupil culture and children’s views of themselves in school, as well as their ideals about schools:
- Klein, R. (2002) We Want Our Say: Children as Active Participants in their Education, Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham.
- Burke, C. and Grosvenor, I. (2003) The School I'd Like. Children and Young People's Reflection on Education for the 21st Century, London: RoutledgeFlamer.
- Devine, D. (2003) Children, Power and Schooling. The Social Structuring Of Childhood in School, Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham.
- Flutter, J. and Ruddock, J. (2004) Consulting Pupils. What's in it for Schools? London: RoutledgeFalmer.
- Goodnow, J. and Burns, A. (1985) Home and School: A Child's Eye View, Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
- Pollard. A. (1985) The Social World of the Primary School, London: Cassell.
- Woods, P. (1990) The Happiest Days? How Pupils Cope with School, London: Falmer.
- Davies, B. (1982) Life in the Classroom and Playground, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
- Gorard, S. A. and Smith, E. (2010) Equity in Education: an International Comparison of Pupil Perspectives. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
The following books present children’s understandings of, and images of, teachers and teaching and how these infiltrate their everyday lives:
- Weber, S. and Mitchell, C. (1995) That's Funny, You Don't Look Like a Teacher: Interrogating Images and Identity in Popular Culture, London: Falmer.
- Alanen, L. and Mayall, B. (2001) Conceptualising Child-Adult Relations, London: Routledge Falmer.
- Cooper, H. and Hyland, R. (2000) Children’s Perceptions of Learning with Trainee Teachers, London: Routledge Falmer.
There are a number of interesting books on children's culture and perspectives. Collections which illustrate such work are:
- Prout, A. and Hallett, C. (2003) Hearing the Voices of Children. Social Policy for a new Century, London: RoutledgeFalmer.
- Moss, D. (2010) Children and Social Change: Memories of Diverse Childhoods. London: Bloomsbury.
- Attwood, G. and Fuller, C. L. (2010) Children's Lives, Children's Futures: A Study of Children Starting Secondary School. London: Continuum.
- Skelton, C., Read, B. and Francis, B. (2012) The Identities and Practices of High Achieving Pupils: Negotiating Achievement and Peer Cultures. London: Continuum.
- James, A. and Prout, A. (eds) (1990) Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood: Contemporary Issues in the Sociological Study of Childhood, London: Falmer.
- James, A., Jenks, C. and Prout, A. (1998) Theorizing Childhood, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Waksler, F. C. (ed) (1991) Studying the Social Worlds of Children: Sociological Readings, London: Falmer.
- Pollard, A., Thiessen, D. and Filer, A. (1996) Children and the Curriculum: The Perspectives of Primary and Elementary School Pupils, London: Falmer.
- Reay, D., Crozier, G. and James, D. (2011) White Middle-Class Identities and Urban Schooling. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Barrett, M. and Buchanan-Barrow, E. (2004) Children's Understanding of Society, London: RoutledgeFalmer.
- Corsaro, W.A. (1997) The Sociology of Childhood, Thousand Oaks, California: Pine Forge Press.
- Facer, K. Furlong, J. Furlong, R., and Sutherland R. (2003) Screenplay, Children and Computing in the Home, London: RoutledgeFalmer.
- Hutchby, I. and Moran-Ellis, J. (2001) Children, Technology and Culture: The impacts of Technologies in Children's Everyday Lives, London: RoutledgeFalmer.
On the experience of young people, see:
- Archer, L. and Mendick, H. (2010) Urban Youth and Schooling. Maidenhead: Mcgraw Hill Education.
- Thomas, P. (2011) Youth, Multiculturalism and Community Cohesion. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Coburn, A. and Wallace, D. (2011) Youth Work in Communities and Schools. Dunedin: Dunedin Academic Press
- Dillabough, J. M. and Kennedy, J. (2010) Lost Youth in the Global City. Abingdon: Routledge.
- Deuchar, R. J. (2009) Gangs, Marginalised Youth and Social Capital. London: IOE Press.
- Ross, A. (2010) Future Citizens: 21st Century Challenges for Young People.
- Ainley, P. J. D. (2010) Lost Generation? New Strategies for Youth and Education. London: Continuum.
The following book by Hallam et al. draws on research exploring the practical experiences of schools, teachers, and pupils of different kinds of grouping.
- Hallam S., Ireson, J. and Davies, J. (2002) Effective Pupil Grouping in the Primary School: A Practical Guide, London: David Fulton.
Books specifically on children’s friendships and playground culture are:
- Bishop, J.C. and Curtis, M. (2001) Play Today In The Primary School Playground, Buckingham: Open University Press
- Rubin, Z. (1980) Children's Friendships, London: Fontana.
- Sluckin, A. (1981) Growing Up in the Playground, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
- Blatchford, P. (1989) Playtime in the Primary School: Problems and Improvements, London: Routledge.
- Blatchford, P. (1998) Social Life in School: Pupils’ Experience of Break time and Recess form 7 to 16 Years, London: Falmer.
Two titles on bullying:
- Lee, C. (2004) Preventing Bullying in Schools: A Guide for Teachers and Other Professionals, London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
- O'Moore, M. and Minton, S. (2004) Dealing with Bullying in Schools: A Training Manual for Teachers, Parents and other Professionals, London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
On children's `needs' see:
- Kelmer Pringle, M, (1974) The Needs of Children, London: Hutchinson.
For philosophical discussions of the problematic nature of 'needs' identification see:
- Dearden, R. F. (1968) The Philosophy of the Primary Education, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
- Barrow, R. (1984) Giving Teaching Back to Teachers, Brighton: Wheatsheaf.
An important book which challenges all determinist ideas about ‘ability’ is:
- Hart, S., Dixon, A., Drummond, M-J. and McIntyre, D. (2004) Learning Without Limits. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
More in this chapter
