Reconsideration on “Student Subculture”

A Note for its Theorization by Paradigm Thinking

Abstract

It is my purpose to reconsider several researches on student subculture in the U.S.A. and Britain. Through this reconsideration, I will get some useful scheme of analysis to do researches on student subculture in Japan. Especially I will analyze them with reference to achievement orientation.
I would point out two following approaches in those researches. One is “school culture” approach advocated by R. Lambert, which is taken from the view point of the school organizational theory, and the other is “adolescent subculture” one advocated by J. S. Coleman, which is taken from the “youth culture” theory.
In this study, I proposed some shortcomings in those two approaches. Students are expected in the school setting to play two roles, that is, “pupil roles” and “teenager roles” suggested by B. Sugarman. But, R. Lambert has been proceeding his research, making much emphasis on “pupil roles”, and J.S. Coleman has been doing his research, making much emphasis on “teenager roles”. In addition to those shortcomings, oth approaches have overlooked “students' valueorientations” inbt heir subculture.
Therefore, it is better to adopt T. Parsons' viewpoint, i.e. “action frame of reference” called “analytical realism” in order to overcome those shortcomings mentioned above. By doing so, we are faced to resolve two following problems ; one connected with the cultural systems in wider society, and the other connected with the student status in school organization.