Abstract:
As society becomes increasingly knowledge-based, educational attainment is often identified as essential for the social mobility of youth. Yet, New Zealand students originating from ethnic minority and lower socio-economic backgrounds are overrepresented in many negative education statistics. Examples include: underachievement, higher suspension and expulsion rates, and leaving school earlier with fewer qualifications. This indicates that educationalists, scholars and policymakers alike, need to generate a more in-depth appreciation of the everyday realities of these students in order to improve their academic achievement levels and overall schooling experiences. This research explores in detail the lifeworlds of four young men (Alex, Harry, Daniel and Max) who have received a unique scholarship to attend an elite boarding school in metropolitan Auckland. By engaging with applicable academic literature, this research outlines the significance of family, supportive social networks, access to resources, culture and religion in the lives of young Māori, Pasifika, and Pākehā working class men navigating secondary school. The four participants were recruited by the school's Assistant Principal and engaged in semistructured interviews, photo-elicitation and mapping tasks. The analysis considers each case individually and examines the lifeworlds of the participants both at school and at home, in their communities of origin. Emergent themes from this research lead to broader questions and opportunities for further research. These include the challenges and achievements of young men navigating secondary school, the experiences of students relocating to attend boarding school, and the benefits of engaging youth in photo-elicitation projects.
