Class Differences (External) Flashcards
Class Differences In Achievement (External Factors): In a nutshell
Some sociologists believe that working class underachievement is due to factors outside the school. Such factors include material deprivation (the inability to afford basic resources, such as adequate housing, food and heating) and cultural deprivation (deficiencies in home and family backgrounds, such as inadequate socialisation, inadequate language skills and inappropriate attitudes/values). In addition, cultural capital (Knowledge, language, attitudes and values, and lifestyle) gives the middle-class an inbuilt advantage in a middle-class controlled education system.
What is cultural deprivation?
It is lacking the ‘right’ culture needed to do well in education. Working Class children suffer from this.
Cultural deprivation: Bernstein
Speech Codes - Differences in speech codes put working-class children at a disadvantage because the elaborated code is used by teachers, textbooks and exams. Early socialisation into the elaborated code means that middle-class pupils are already at an advantage as working class children are taught the restricted code.
Cultural deprivation: Douglas
Parents’ Education - Working-class parents place less value on education; they are less ambitious for their children and give them less encouragement to participate in educational activities, such as homework. As a result of this, many working-class parents do not attend parents evening.
Cultural deprivation: Sugarmann
Working-class Subcultures - Sugarmann identifies 4 key acts that act as a barrier to educational achievement for working class pupils:
-Fatalism- there’s nothing you can do to change your status
-Collectivism - valuing being part of a group more than being an individual
-Immediate gratification- seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices in order to get rewards in the future
-Present time orientation- seeing the present as more important than the future, therefore having no long-term goals
What is material deprivation?
It is when individuals or households can’t afford goods and activities that are typical in society.
Material deprivation: Housing
Poor housing can affect a pupils achievement directly and indirectly:
-Overcrowding means there is no room for educational activities, such as homework and reading. It also means disturbed sleep from sharing bedrooms.
-Families living in temp accommodation may find themselves having to move frequently, leading to disturbed education
-Overcrowded homes mean greater risk of accidents and a higher risk of getting ill. This may lead to absence from school
Material deprivation: Diet and health
Young people from poorer homes have lower intakes of energy, vitamins and minerals. Poor nutrition affects health, for example, by weakening the child’s immune system- this may result in more absences from school .
Howard notes that children from poorer families have poorer diets and nutrition which leads to lack of energy and higher absence rates.
What is cultural capital?
having the knowledge, attitudes and values needed to succeed in education. Middle class parents teach this to their children.
Cultural capital: Bourdieu
Middle-class children with cultural capital are better equipped to meet the demands on the school curriculum. Parents can convert the cultural capital into economic capital, for example, they can send their children to private schools.
