A Critical Analysis Of An Ethnographic Research

A Critical Analysis of a Research Article:

Cecile Wright, 1992. Early Education: Multiracial Primary School Classrooms in Racism and education: structures and strategies

Introduction

This paper is a critical analysis of an ethnographic research paper, which examined four inner- city primary schools in London. The study was conducted in 1988-9 by Professor of Sociology Cecile Wright and considers the significant cultural and perceived racial difference in the daily learning experiences and interactions in classroom and school settings. The paper examines in particular the relationships between peer group and the teachers. The study found some of these children to be at risk of experiencing educational and social constructed disadvantages. This paper provides an overview of the background issues explored, methodology used and conclusions reached by the study.

What is the problem that is addressed in the research?

Wright argues that before 1992 there was very little research that had examined the effects of school education on children from different ethnic of backgrounds. According to Wright, previous studies were not based on direct observation and rather focus on secondary school students.

Wright acknowledges the existence of formal educational distinctions between groups of people along the lines of race and ethnicity. She argued however to fully understand the workings of the education system and its impact on students, it is imperative for observational studies to be done in schools. Her research consequently aimed to fill the gap in the body of existing knowledge, which only explained the different experiences as direct consequence of students’ school behavior.

Wright’s study concluded that children of different ethnic backgrounds did experience school differently. By observing and exploring the fundamental processes that lead these children to have different interactions within a primary school setting, the study demonstrated these differences were...