Processes Within Schools » Hidden Curriculum in Practice

Understanding the Hidden Curriculum

When we think about what we learn at school, we usually think about subjects like maths, English and science. But there's much more going on in schools than just the official lessons. The hidden curriculum refers to all the things students learn at school that aren't part of the official or formal curriculum.

Key Definitions:

• Formal Curriculum: The official subjects and content that schools teach (maths, English, science, etc.).
• Hidden Curriculum: The unwritten, unofficial and often unintended lessons, values and perspectives that students learn in school.
• Social Norms: The unwritten rules about how people are expected to behave in society.
• Cultural Capital: The knowledge, behaviours and skills that are valued by the dominant groups in society.

Elements of the Hidden Curriculum in Practice

The hidden curriculum operates in many different ways throughout school life. Here are some of the main elements you might recognise from your own school experience:

School Rules and Routines

Schools have many rules and routines that teach students about authority, time management and acceptable behaviour:

• Punctuality: Being on time for lessons teaches the importance of time-keeping for future employment.
• Uniforms: School uniforms can teach conformity and reduce visible social class differences.
• Raising hands: This teaches students to wait their turn and respect authority figures.
• Lining up: Queuing teaches patience and orderly behaviour in public spaces.

Authority and Power Relationships

The way schools are organised teaches students about power and authority:

👨‍🏫 Teacher Authority

Students learn to respect and obey authority figures. Teachers control when students can speak, move around, or even use the toilet.

🎓 Academic Hierarchy

Setting and streaming by ability teaches students about academic hierarchies and can affect self-perception and aspirations.

🏆 Reward Systems

Merit systems, house points and prizes teach students about competition and what behaviours are valued in society.

Gender and the Hidden Curriculum

Schools often unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes through various practices:

• Subject choices: Despite efforts to change this, there are still gender patterns in subject choices (e.g., more boys in physics, more girls in English literature).
• Sports activities: Some schools still have different sports for boys and girls (football vs netball).
• Teacher expectations: Research shows teachers may unconsciously have different expectations of boys and girls.
• Classroom interactions: Studies show boys often receive more attention and are called on more frequently in class.

Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum

Pierre Bourdieu, a French sociologist, argued that schools reward students who possess "cultural capital" - the knowledge, behaviours and skills valued by the dominant groups in society:

How Schools Reward Middle-Class Cultural Capital

Schools often unintentionally favour students from middle-class backgrounds through:

• Language use: The formal language used in schools is closer to middle-class speech patterns.
• Expected knowledge: Assumptions about what students should already know or have experienced (like visits to museums or theatres).
• Behaviour expectations: Schools often reward behaviours that align with middle-class values (politeness, deferred gratification, specific forms of self-expression).
• Parental involvement: Schools expect certain types of parental engagement that may be easier for middle-class parents with flexible jobs and more resources.

Identifying the Hidden Curriculum in Your School

Now that you understand the concept, try to identify elements of the hidden curriculum in your own school experience:

• What unwritten rules exist in your school?
• How do teachers treat different groups of students?
• What behaviours get rewarded or punished?
• Are there different expectations for different groups?
• What messages do school displays and celebrations send?

Summary: The Hidden Curriculum in Practice

The hidden curriculum is a powerful force in schools that teaches students much more than just academic subjects. Through rules, routines, relationships and expectations, schools transmit values, norms and behaviours that prepare students for adult life. While this can have positive effects in teaching necessary social skills, it can also reinforce inequalities and stereotypes.

Understanding the hidden curriculum helps us become more aware of these unintended lessons and potentially challenge those that limit opportunities or reinforce harmful stereotypes. As a sociology student, developing this awareness is an important part of your sociological imagination!