The Dark Side of the Classroom in New Caledonia: Ethnic and Class Segregation in Nouméa's Primary School System

An investigation of the socioethnic characteristics of public elementary schools in New Caledonia. It is argued that these schools function as mechanisms of the reproduction of the colonial society, perpetuating inequalities in the academic career successes of European & Melanesian students. Dat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative education review 1989-05, Vol.33 (2), p.194-212
Main Author: WACQUANT, L. J. D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Children
Cities
Educational sciences
Elementary schools
Ethnic minority, racial problems, cultural differences
Ethnicity
Focus on Primary Schooling
Junior High Schools
New Caledonia
Public Schools
Racial segregation
School Desegregation
School segregation
School space
Socioeconomic Factors
Sociology of culture
Sociology of education
Students
Suburbs
Upper class
Urban schools
White people
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Summary:An investigation of the socioethnic characteristics of public elementary schools in New Caledonia. It is argued that these schools function as mechanisms of the reproduction of the colonial society, perpetuating inequalities in the academic career successes of European & Melanesian students. Data obtained via a comprehensive questionnaire survey of 1,572 sixth-grade (CM2) students in 40 schools in the capital of Noumea & 3 adjoining municipalities are used to describe how schools are segregated on the basis of children's socioeconomic background & ethnicity. The hierarchical structure of the school space is shown to be closely related to residential segregation, & magnified by pupil migrations. 6 Tables. K. Hyatt
ISSN:0010-4086
1545-701X
DOI:10.1086/446835