The Affect of Cliques
Cliques are a part of growing up. Throughout all the unique, different stages of life, people tend to naturally find their social niche. Cliques in school aged children though can be particularly controversial. Some students can greatly benefit from social groups by gaining confidence, social skills, a sense of belonging and friends that may end up lasting a lifetime. Other students may feel left out of cliques or use them to promote destructive behaviors.
One college professor, Joe D. Nichols, conducted
a research to discover the effect high school
cliques had on students’ motivation towards school and academic success. Nichols had teachers record which students worked together, which students worked alone and the grade they received on homework assignments and tests. His research showed that students who were part of a social clique did better academically than unattached students who worked alone. This information supports the idea that cliques can have a positive affect on students' success. Students who work in cliques tend to motivate each other to reach a common goal. With this knowledge, teachers and parents should encourage group work activities. Teachers could assign groups to work on homework, study or complete projects. This could help more students succeed academically because no one would be left to work alone. Students who normally would choose to work alone would be introduced to a motivating, supportive group.
Journalist Marjorie Coeyman reports on some of the more negative effects cliques can have on students. She reports that cliques and social groups can lead students to feel excluded and let out by their peers. An example brought up of cliques having a negative effect on students was the shooting at Columbine High School resulting in 15 people shot and killed. One quote from the journal of one of the shooters states, “I hate you people for
leaving me out of so many fun things”. This is an extreme, tragic situation where two students felt so isolated by their fellow students that they reacted with brutal violence. Much can be taken away from this event though. To make students feel less alienated, the school can host fun, social events that are open to everyone. Schools can also form student run organizations that encourage reaching out to others and creating a more friendly student body. One more way schools can try to make students feel more connected is to have an abundance of different clubs anyone can join. This will hopefully result in more students making friends and feeling more accepted.
Cliques can have a significant effect on the way students behave. If people in a group of friends have a good attitude about school or extra curricular activities chances are the others will follow. Cliques have the power to motivate the students involved.
Several Reasons Why Cliques Form
- Student similarities
- Shared interests
- Common goals
- Establish identity
- Need for acceptance
- Because of differences (good and bad)
- Approval
- Appearance
- Social status
- Similar outside of school activities (club sports)
- Location
What Next
One can do a lot with this understanding of cliques, the effect they have on students and why they form. This information can be used to benefit students academically and socially. Every child deserves the chance to be confident, successful and happy in life. Understanding cliques and social groups can help. Encouraging students to work together and include others is key. With this research, teachers, parents and schools can make a positive difference in students' lives.
Work Cited
Coeyman, Marjorie. "Schools
eye social life." Christian Science Monitor June 1999: 14. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.
Hallinan, T. Maureen and Smith S. Stevens. Classroom
Characteristics and Student Friendship Cliques.
Social Forces, Vol. 67, No. 4 (Jun., 1989), pp. 898-919. Published
by: Oxford University Press.
Nichols, Joe D., and White, Janet. "Impact Of Peer Networks On Achievement Of High School Algebra Students." Journal Of Educational Research 94.5 (2001): 267. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Mar. 2012.
