Which term describes groups of students who form counter-norms to school rules in response to negative labeling?

• A. Pupil subcultures
• B. Cultural capital
• C. Meritocracy
• D. Social mobility

Answer: (A)

Groups of students who form counter-norms to school rules in response to negative labeling are described as pupil subcultures. When teachers label certain students as failing or less capable, those students may reject the school's norms and band together with peers who share the same experiences. Within this subculture, they develop their own rules, values, and codes of conduct that oppose the school's expectations, giving members a sense of belonging and status that the mainstream system doesn’t provide. This idea links to how pupils respond to labeling and streaming, showing how stigma can lead to a distinct group identity within the school. The other terms refer to broader ideas—cultural capital to resources that help success, meritocracy to a belief about fair reward based on effort, and social mobility to movement between social classes—not the specific formation of groups with counter-norms in schools.