List of James S. Coleman Quotes

In A High School, The Norms Act To Hold Down The Achievements Of Those Who Are Above Average, So That The School's Demands Will Be At A Level Easily Maintained By The Majority.

If We Refuse To Accept As Inevitable The Irresponsibility And Educational Unconcern Of The Adolescent Culture, Then This Poses A Serious Challenge.

The Present Structure Of Rewards In High Schools Produces A Response On The Part Of An Adolescent Social System Which Effectively Impedes The Process Of Education.

I'd Propose That Each Central-city Child Should Have An Entitlement From The State To Attend Any School In The Metropolitan Area Outside His Own District - With Per Pupil Funds Going With Him.

Cultural Dominance Of Middle-class Norms Prevail In Middle-class Schools With A Teacher Teaching Toward Those Standards And With Students Striving To Maintain Those Standards.

As An Example, One Of The Schools I Have Been Studying Is Too Small To Compete Effectively In Most Sports, But Participates With Vigor Each Year In The State Music Contests.

Particular Individuals Who Might Never Consider Dropping Out If They Were In A Different High School Might Decide To Drop Out If They Attended A School Where Many Boys And Girls Did So.

In Every School, More Boys Wanted To Be Remembered As A Star Athlete Than As A Brilliant Student.

It Is Clear From All These Data That The Interests Of Teenagers Are Not Focused Around Studies, And That Scholastic Achievement Is At Most Of Minor Importance In Giving Status Or Prestige To An Adolescent In The Eyes Of Other Adolescents.

The Educational Resources Provided By A Child's Fellow Students Are More Important For His Achievement Than Are The Resources Provided By The School Board.

The Results Indicate That Heterogeneity Of Race And Heterogeneity Of Family Educational Background Can Increase The Achievement Of Children From Weak Educational Backgrounds With No Adverse Effect On Children From Strong Educational Backgrounds.

Grades Are Almost Completely Relative, In Effect Ranking Students Relative To Others In Their Class. Thus Extra Achievement By One Student Not Only Raises His Position, But In Effect Lowers The Position Of Others.