Christine Skelton

Charles Dickens called his sister-in-law Georgina Hogarth his ‘best and truest friend’. Georgina saw Dickens as much more than a friend. They lived together for twenty-eight years, during which time their relationship constantly changed. The sister of his wife Catherine, the sharp and witty Georgina moved into the Dickens home aged fifteen. What began as a father–daughter relationship blossomed into a genuine rapport, but their easy relations were fractured when Dickens had a mid-life crisis and determined to rid himself of Catherine. Georgina’s refusal to leave Dickens and his desire for her to remain in his household led to rumours of an affair and even illegitimate children. He left her the equivalent of almost £1 million and all his personal papers in his will. Georgina’s commitment to Dickens was unwavering but it is far from clear what he did to deserve such loyalty. There were several occasions when he misused her in order to protect his public reputation.Why did Georgina betray her once much-loved sister? Why did she fall out with her family and risk her reputation in order to stay with Dickens? And why did the Dickenses’ daughter Katey say it was ‘the greatest mistake ever’ to invite a sister-in-law to live with a family?

This title addresses the tension between high achievement and popularity in secondary schools, exploring the sociological impact of this in the lives of young people. How do some students manage to excel in their studies and be popular while other high achievers are treated as social outcasts? This lively and accessible text looks at the relationships between gender, race and social class, and attainment and popularity, for high achieving pupils. The internationally renowned authors present a lucid theoretical framework that reflects the complexity of these issues, placing them within the broader context of the policies which cause and constrain particular behaviours among teachers and pupils. The authors draw together empirical data, bringing the realities of young people to life and presenting the lessons that can be learnt to enhance the educational achievement of all students. Issues covered include: the social consequences for the 'too hardworking'; the tension between high achievement and popularity; and, the classroom practices adopted by pupils accomplishing popularity and high achievement. This is an engaging text for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students exploring the debates on identity and achievement.

This title addresses the tension between high achievement and popularity in secondary schools, exploring the sociological impact of this in the lives of young people. How do some students manage to excel in their studies and be popular while other high achievers are treated as social outcasts? This lively and accessible text looks at the relationships between gender, race and social class, and attainment and popularity, for high achieving pupils. The internationally renowned authors present a lucid theoretical framework that reflects the complexity of these issues, placing them within the broader context of the policies which cause and constrain particular behaviours among teachers and pupils. The authors draw together empirical data, bringing the realities of young people to life and presenting the lessons that can be learnt to enhance the educational achievement of all students. Issues covered include: the social consequences for the 'too hardworking'; the tension between high achievement and popularity; and, the classroom practices adopted by pupils accomplishing popularity and high achievement. This is an engaging text for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students exploring the debates on identity and achievement.

Feminism and ‘The Schooling Scandal’ brings together feminist contributions from two generations of educational researchers, evaluating and celebrating the field of gender and education. The focus throughout is on the years of compulsory schooling, examining key concepts in gender and education identified and developed by international thinkers in educational feminism. Topics covered include:social class, ethnicity and sexuality in relation to experiences in school; theories and methodologies for understanding gender;pedagogy and practice in education; andthe direction of educational policy and the ‘problem of boys’.Providing a comprehensive overview of contemporary research and theory emerging from ‘second wave’ feminism and assessing their impact on pupils and teachers in today’s schools and classrooms, this book forms essential reading for anyone studying gender and education.

Feminism and ‘The Schooling Scandal’ brings together feminist contributions from two generations of educational researchers, evaluating and celebrating the field of gender and education. The focus throughout is on the years of compulsory schooling, examining key concepts in gender and education identified and developed by international thinkers in educational feminism. Topics covered include:social class, ethnicity and sexuality in relation to experiences in school; theories and methodologies for understanding gender;pedagogy and practice in education; andthe direction of educational policy and the ‘problem of boys’.Providing a comprehensive overview of contemporary research and theory emerging from ‘second wave’ feminism and assessing their impact on pupils and teachers in today’s schools and classrooms, this book forms essential reading for anyone studying gender and education.

Challenging current theories about gender and achievement, this book assesses the issues at stake and analyses the policy drives and changing perceptions of gender on which the 'gender and achievement' debates are based.This new topical book guides the reader through the different theories and approaches, drawing together and reviewing work on gender and educational performance. The authors also highlight the continuing problems experienced by girls in terms of achievement and classroom interaction. The subjects covered include:perspectives on gender and achievementthe construction of gender and achievement in education policyevaluating boys’ underachievementthe future for boys and girls?raising achievement: 'What works in the classroom?'Teachers, education professionals and students engaged in teacher training will welcome the editors' objective yet critical expertise.

Challenging current theories about gender and achievement, this book assesses the issues at stake and analyses the policy drives and changing perceptions of gender on which the 'gender and achievement' debates are based.This new topical book guides the reader through the different theories and approaches, drawing together and reviewing work on gender and educational performance. The authors also highlight the continuing problems experienced by girls in terms of achievement and classroom interaction. The subjects covered include:perspectives on gender and achievementthe construction of gender and achievement in education policyevaluating boys’ underachievementthe future for boys and girls?raising achievement: 'What works in the classroom?'Teachers, education professionals and students engaged in teacher training will welcome the editors' objective yet critical expertise.

This book explores where masculinity is in primary schools. It has been argued by some commentators that a contributory factor to boys' underachievement is the predominance of women teachers in primary schools which has led to classroom management and teaching styles which 'favour' girls. As this book shows, primary schools produce a range of masculinities for pupils to draw on. A number of questions are raised: what are the tensions for boys between what the school expects from them as 'school pupils' and how they are drawn to behave as a 'boy'? How does a primary school produce certain masculine styles in its day-to-day routines? In what ways do girls respond to male practices and behaviours in the primary school classroom? The book provides readers with an understanding of the background literature on boys and schooling, an insight into 'masculinity-making' in primary schools, and to offer strategies for developing gender-relevant programmes.