Class and Education Flashcards
by 1938 in England 88% of children were attending school up to the age of 14 but..
.. class sizes were 50+ and only 1 in 150 would go to university
what did Ball say?
only 1 in 7 children remained in school after 14
what did the 1944 Butler Act entail?
education from 5-15 became free for all people however this was only extended for severely handicapped children in 1970, it offered support for students from poor families including free milk and dental and health care
what happened post 1997 labour government?
specialist schools were introduced allowing for some admission by entrance exams
what does Becky Francis argue?
“the relationship between parental wealth and background and children’s educational outcome is particularly strong and deeply problematic.”
according to a progress report in 2012 the most advantaged young people are..
.. 7 times more likely to attend the most selective universities than the disadvantaged
what did Crozier et al find?
that experiences were shaped by type of institution and expectations of students, subcultures and students own socio-cultural locations (gender, age, ethnicity, class)
middles class parents are seen as more able to use their knowledge of the education system to their advantage and are more likely to:
make more active choices when selecting a school and be more influenced by league tables and ofsted reports and to be viewed as an equal when speaking to teachers
social class influences parent/ teacher relationships for example..
.. working class women are less confident about their own schooling and are more intimidated by teachers while middle class mothers are more assertive
what is parentocracy?
where a child’s education is dependent on the wealth and wishes of the parents rather than the ability of the pupils. the parents ability to make choices arguably depends on the relative amounts of cultural and economic capital
who says that cultural capital is not just about having the right knowledge but about knowing how to use it and what example does he use?
Reay working class parents find it difficult to help their children with homework
Schools are not just about formal learning but also..
.. an invisible pedagogy shaping academic performance
how may teachers be impartial in their assessments of pupils?
favouring appearance, personality, conformity - not necessarily related to ability
According to Bourdieu, education maintains power and privilege of the ruling class and is a site of cultural reproduction transmitting dominant knowledge from one generation to the next. he argues dominant forms of culture are rewarded by the education system with..
.. symbolic violence - where dominant culture is imposed and misrecognised as legitimate
what is habitus according to Bourdieu?
the physical embodiment of cultural capital to the deeply ingrained habits, skills and dispositions we posses due to our life experiences.
Bourdieu argues that cultural capital is a resource that people can use that is transmitted by the family but can be accumulated and perpetuates social inequality despite..
.. achievement being assumed to be based simply on merit or talent
how does Bourdieu argue that children are prepared and unprepared for school?
he argues that with the concept of cultural, social and economic capital, children are prepared and unprepared for school in different ways and their success is based largely on their combination of capitals and schools reproduce class inequality in that they benefit middle and upper class children.
what does Bourdieu say success of pupils is based on?
children’s integration into the culture and attitudes of an upper class oriented education - this is cultural capital
what does Bottero say?
“class inequalities strongly influenced material life chances” shaping life expectancy, chances of education success and so on
who says the british education system arguably reproduces class inequality in the way that middle and upper class children are more likely to succeed in their gcse’s and more likely to go onto higher and further education?
Croxford and Raffe
what does Reay argue about how schools benefit upper and middle class children?
schools benefit upper and middle class children by transmitting the dominant culture “in ways that perpetuate social inequalities”
who says that working class children feel out of place and get left behind with parents who also feel a lack of confidence in dealing with schools
Goldthorpe
what does Bernstein argue?
that middle and upper class children have advantages in that the language used in education is of the elaborated code which they are socialised into. while working class children are familiar with the restricted code which is not used in school. so schools disadvantage children by teaching in a style that they cannot grasp easily
explain economic capital
economic capital ensures that even where the education system seems meritocratic, the upper classes attend the best schools with the best teachers and results. it allows that children in richer areas with parents that have a greater social mobility are in catchment for better schools as well as the purchase of equipment and things that may enhance learning, books, stationary, tutors, etc.
explain what Reay thinks about the importance of economic and social capital
Real argues that economic capital is important but it is cultural capital that gives parents incentive to prepare and see their children through school. cultural capital can sometimes exist without economic capital and this is how working class children sometimes succeed. e.g. in gifted and talented programmes most working class children feel out of place and drop out. those that stayed he found had parents with cultural capital and characteristics such as university educations
what is social capital?
the relationships and social ties that can secure people in certain positions
