Attitudes of Offenders and Non‐Offenders towards School

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Abstract
As a result of group discussions with working class pupils from areas of high delinquency it was postulated that there were at least three broad and overlapping categories of pupils attending comprehensive schools in these districts. These were termed school‐orientated pupils, nonchalant pupils and anti‐school pupils. An attempt was then made to ascertain some of the main differences in attitudes towards school between offenders and non‐offenders. Generally speaking it was found that non‐offenders occupied the first and second of the above categories and offenders the second and third. Questionnaires were given to 120 pupils composed of a group of 60 non‐offenders and a group of 60 offenders. All the pupils were attending school but while all the non‐offenders were still at day school most of the offenders were in the care of their local authorities. The offenders were found to have presented more problems for the school authorities either through misbehaviour or truancy. On attitude items (Likert‐type scale) relating to school and lessons there were differences in responses from the two groups at a high level of significance. The remaining items (both concerning teachers) showed no significant differences.

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