class differences and achievement Flashcards
social class
A way of measuring a person’s position in society based on their (or their parent’s) occupation.
educational achievement
How well a student does in their education. This is measured by how well they do in their formal exams, and also what level of education they achieve (e.g. GCSEs, A Levels, university degree)
material deprivation
Lacking (being without) the resources, or money needed to buy resources, that could help educational achievement.
economic capital
Having economic (monetary) resources such as cash or property.
cultural capital
Having the right norms and values needed for educational success, and valued by wider society.
cultural deprivation
where a child’s norms and values disadvantage them in the education system. A child’s culture can affect their educational success.
fatalistic attitudes
A belief that whatever will be will be, often leading to people with this attitude giving up when faced with difficulty or failure.
social capital
Having a network of people that are often well connected and might be able to help out with life.
speech codes
The way people speak, including the variety and complexity of vocabulary. This could be restricted, with limited variety and complexity of verbal language and sentence structure, or elaborated, with a wide range of vocabulary and detail and complexity in the verbal sentence structure
subculture
a groups whose attitudes and values differ from the rest of society/ mainstream culture
a group of people with their own norms and value
fatalism
a belief in fate - ‘ that whatever will be, will be’, and there is nothing you can do to change your status. This contrasts with middle-class values, which emphasises that you can change your position through your own efforts
E.g. ‘ it is what it is’ , ‘ it’s too late’ ‘my hard work is in vain’ ‘I give up’
collectivism
valuing being part of a group more than succeeding as an individual. This contrasts with the middle-class view that an individual should not be held back by group loyalties
E.g. ‘ you said you were coming to the party- not going to the library!’ ‘If you’ll revise, I’ll revise’
immediate gratification
seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices in order to get reward in the future. By contrast, middle-class values emphasise differed gratification, making sacrifices now for greater rewards later
E.g. ‘ YOLO!’ ‘Live like you’re gonna die tomorrow!’ ‘Just one more hour!’
present-time orientation
seeing the present as more important than the future and so not having long-term goals or plans. By contrast, middle-class culture has a future- time orientation that sees planning for the future as important.
E.g. ‘ I don’t know what I want to do in the future - I’m just taking each day as it comes!’ ‘Whatever happens, happens’
ideal pupil
the label given to students who fit the teacher’s idea of a perfect student
halo effect
the consequences of being labelled an ideal pupil
labelling
when a meaning gets attached to someone
self-fulfilling prophecy
when someone acts in accordance to their label/internalises the label
self-concept
how someone views them
master status
the main label others attract to someone
pupil subculture
a group of pupils who share similar values and behaviour patterns, however their values differ from the rest of the school.
differentiation
the process of teachers categorising pupils based on how they perceive their ability. Streaming is a form of differentiation as it categorises pupils into Separate classes
polorisation
the process in which pupils respond to streaming by moving toward one of two extremes : pro- school subculture😇 or anti-school subculture 😈
ingratiation
- being the ‘teachers’ ‘pet’
ritualise
going through the motions and staying out of trouble
retreating
daydreaming and mucking about
rebellion
rejection of everything the school stands for
Habitus
refers to the learned ways of thinking, being and acting, all shared by a particular social class. E.g. preferences for lifestyle, consumptions and beliefs
Symbolic capital
refers to the status, recognition and sense of worth we are able to obtain from others
symbolic violence
refers to the harm done by denying someone symbolic capital (status and value). E.g. , by seeing their culture as worthless
