Socialization and the Symbolic Order of the School¹

Comparatively little research in western education has focused upon the way in which ritual and ceremonial practices achieve their effects in the socialization process. This paper, in analyzing two private secondary school rituals, essays a partial answer to two questions: Why do private schools appear to be so much more successful than state schools in committing their clientele to the advancement of the school project and in socializing students into acceptance of and support for the culture of the school? And what is the socializing role of ritual practice in such schools? SOCIALIZATION, RITUAL, SCHOOL CULTURE, SCHOOL ETHNOGRAPHY, SOCIAL CLASS.