Value Of Cliques In Schools

With its multitude of social groups, school can be likened to a world unto itself; comprising of different sovereign states. From the innocuous witticism of the theatrically inclined to the popular kids of the school’s rugby team, these groups, or cliques as we call them, tend to associate exclusively amongst themselves and can often be defined by a common characteristic. The formation of these social groups is also justified by the need for acceptance and belonging, which are crucial elements in a teenager’s academic journey. However, some feel that this social phenomenon is more bane than boon. Critics feel that these socially exclusively cliques serve as a hotbed for the manifestation of many undesirable behaviors and traits, such as bullying …show more content…
In order to gain social acceptance, a member of a clique may be compelled to do things that are incongruent to their personal values, beliefs and attitudes. For instance, an individual might feel obliged to pick up smoking or take drugs if the rest of the clique members engage in these vices. This is especially so if influential figures of the group partake in these activities as well. While the dangers of conformity cannot be neglected, I feel that it is are a matter of intrinsic personal values as well as the false perception that engaging in such activities will allow them to gain acceptance. Firstly, if the individual has the mental fortitude and aptitude to resist conforming to what the rest of people are doing, he or she will not feel the need to conform to these vices. Secondly, people tend to be associated in a clique based on shared values or beliefs, and not on whether one engage in a certain activity. On the contrary, members of the clique might perceive the individual that does not conform as one that has a strong character, and in turn gain respect for