Derrington 2012 thesis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

7.4 Students’ attitudes to school and the issue of respect
“I’m not quite sure but they do give us respect cos they understand our needs and
problems” (Chris, appendix 7.1.23, p.378).
Students were asked before and after music therapy about respect at school and
whether they considered adults understood young people. ’It is suggested that when
pupils are conscious of being respected, cared for and valued by their teachers, they
experience benefits to their individual self-images, which in turn help to motivate and
sustain their efforts to strive for further achievement’ (Cooper, 1993, p.181). This
question therefore helped the researcher to reflect on the setting and the relevance of
music therapy taking place there. All students were keen to comment on this topic
and their answers are shown in figures 7.4.1 and 7.4.2.
Figure 7.4.1 Is there enough respect in schools for young people Responses from
Centre School students
Before music therapy
After music therapy
0%
8%
17%
Yes
Some
13%
Yes
Some
75%
Don't know
87%
Don't know
The majority of students considered that there was enough respect in their school. In
the post music therapy interview the number of students who felt that there was
enough respect increased. The Centre School students felt very strongly about this
and talked about what respect meant to them. Clare also reflected on students’ respect
for one another: “The older, the more we get on, respect each other, that sort of thing”
(appendix 7.1.19, p.351).
Figure 7.4.2 shows the responses from students in the mainstream school. Although
the responses seem to show a large drop in numbers of students who feel there is
enough respect, the overall picture is less discouraging.
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