Prescriptivism in Schools

Episode summary:In this episode, hosts Morana Lukač, Linda Pillière, and Ingrid Tieken are joined by Dr. Ian Cushing, Senior Lecturer in Critical Applied Linguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University. Together, they unpack the ideological foundations and social consequences of prescriptivism in education—how language norms become embedded in school policy, how they marginalize certain students and teachers, and how educators are pushing back.Building on Ian’s research and lived experience, the conversation explores the intersections of race, class, and language, revealing how so-called "standard" English functions as a tool of surveillance and control in contemporary schooling. Despite the challenges, Ian highlights examples of hope and resistance led by teachers advocating for critical language awareness.Episode highlights:Ian’s journey: From school experiences to linguistic justice.Structural prescriptivism: Language norms enforced through policy.Language & bias: “Correct” English as social gatekeeping.Ofsted’s role: Non-standard speech linked to poor performance.Beyond words: Prescriptivism targets bodies, not just language.Reform critique: Post-2010 policies deepened linguistic inequality.Teacher resistance: CLAW Collective fosters change and hope.Linguistics fun fact:Did you know some schools explicitly ban filler words like “like” and “um”? Even speaking in incomplete sentences can be grounds for correction—all part of controlling how students express themselves.Links and resources mentioned:The Routledge Handbook of Linguistic Prescriptivism (with Ian and Julia Snell’s chapter “Prescriptivism in education: from language ideologies to listening practices”)“The white ears of Ofsted” – Cushing & Snell, Language in SocietyStandards, Stigma, Surveillance – Ian's 2022 book on raciolinguistic ideologies in England’s schoolsIan's paper on "word gaps" (2022)