ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that teachers differentiate their pupils along social class lines even within comprehensive schools. The humanities department divides pupils into parallel groups within each band and looks forward to teaching completely mixed ability groups. For the teacher, social control may depend on his being able in the classroom to maintain publicly his definition of the situation. The educational policy of the course and of the department draws selectively and consciously on education theory and research, and is seen by at least some of the department as an informed and expert view of education, as opposed to the lay and commonsense views advanced by other departments. Streaming perpetuates the distinction between grammar and secondary modern school under one roof, and creates or maintains social divisiveness, since like the grammar school it favours middle-class children.
