Question

Keith, Mike, and Paul feel that they are good at many things, but the standards with which they are judged successful or unsuccessful are unfair. The especially feel this way in school from their teachers and coaches. They are most likely being majored using ______.

Answer 1

Students are often judged by subjective standards, which can result in feelings of unfairness and contribute to self-fulfilling prophecies. Tracking and labeling in schools can perpetuate inequalities, while educational environments that encourage belief in all students' abilities can promote success.

Step-by-step explanation:

Keith, Mike, and Paul are most likely being measured using subjective standards in school. Subjective standards are individual interpretations or perceptions of success that can differ greatly between teachers and coaches. These standards often lead to feelings of unfairness among students because they don't provide a consistent measure of achievement.

Concepts like the industry versus inferiority stage in childhood development suggest that individuals develop self-perception based on comparisons with their peers. Success or lack thereof in the school environment can reinforce or damage a student's self-esteem, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is particularly evident in tracking systems and the use of labels, which can create lasting impacts on students' belief in their own abilities.

For example, conflict theorists argue that tracking in education perpetuates inequalities and leads to self-fulfilling prophecies. This is supported by cases where students believe in negative labels applied to them by authority figures, such as in Jeremy Iversen's book High School Confidential. Conversely, educational approaches that avoid tracking and focus on equipping all students with the belief that they can succeed, like those at The Equity Project, may promote a much more positive educational experience.

Answer 2

They are most likely being majored using lower-class measuring rod.

Step-by-step explanation:

It seems that Keith, Mike, and Paul are experiencing status frustration. Status frustration theory states that there are some factors that lead young working-class men to become delinquents. One of those is the fact that the school system tends to value middle-class appearance and behaviors. For that reason, working-class boys tend to feel unappreciated and undervalued. It is important to note that this theory has been heavily criticized.