ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the etymology of disaffection as an interaction between social classes. Disaffection within school can thus be seen to arise from structural reality. The theme running throughout such accounts seems to be that the relationship between the social classes in England hinges on a segregation that is structured through disdain and a fear of contamination lurking in the subconscious of the middle classes. As other studies have demonstrated the geographical concentration of poverty was further compounded by ethnicity. Wolcott's 'The Teacher as Enemy affords us an alternative view to that which characterises disaffection as simply an oppositional culture, since he sees disaffection as demonstrating working-class pupils as assessment of the 'understanding and respect of a stranger towards their culture'. While disaffection is later analysed as a characteristic emanating from structural factors, in practice it is a highly social behaviour, constantly developing in the context of relationships and derived from multiple social concerns.
