class differences in achievement Flashcards
setting and streaming definition
streaming is separating children into different ability streams - each group are taught separately and lower streams aren’t taught all of the knowledge - w/c more likely to be in lower streams - hard to move up - locked into low expectations
subcultures
Sugarman - subcultures are a group of students who share similar values, attitudes and behaviour patterns (as a response to labelling) -pro school (m/c)=like school, positive stereotypes + labels, halo, high sets + streams, gain status through educational success - anti school (w/c)=dislike school, negative stereotypes + labels, low sets + streams, gain status by messing about
teacher expectations
Rosenthal and Jacobson - gave pupils a test to see if they would be spurters but picked half at random and told teachers they would spurt - 47% of them made significant progress - suggests teachers interacted with them differently and conveyed high expectations to them
labelling and self fulfilling prophecy
labelling is to attach a meaning or definition to a person - teachers pass judgement based on the ‘ideal pupil’ stereotypes - m/c closer to this - SFP is a prediction coming true purely on the basis of it being made e.g w/c might be labelled failures and then stop trying in school
social capital
refers to social networks - knowing the right people + who to talk to for advice - m/c have this and use it to help with education - m/c know more people to help and teachers for inside information in schools or to help their child get in
parental attitudes
w/c parents most likely did bad in school so don’t care about it / might not agree with it - won’t push their child to do homework or tell them off for bad behaviour - but could want them to do well so they don’t turn out like them
material deprivation
w/c students might have lack of sleep + food or might not have the right equipment that m/c have to improve their education - puts them at a disadvantage
catchment area
house prices near good schools go up = w/c parents can’t afford them so their child has to go to a lower achieving school and could affect the grades they get
external factors
- cultural deprivation (+language codes + w/c subculture + parents’ education)
- material deprivation
- cultural capital
cultural capital
refers to knowledge, attitudes, values and abilities of m/c gained through primary socialisation = motivation to succeed - pupils are able to analyse and express ideas - developing intellectual interests - more likely to go on trips to help them in school - w/c have a lack of this = exam failure, may truent and not try in school
language codes definition and 1 evaluation
Bernstein identified differences in w/c and m/c language
2 types:
1. restricted code(w/c) = informal, limited vocabulary, simple sentences, descriptive not analytic and context bound, adequate for everyday but not education
2. elaborate code(m/c) = formal, wide vocabulary, complex sentences, communicates abstract ideas and context free, classroom, interviews, work and exam answers so can understand exams
* critics argue the difference is exaggerated - Gaine and George say Bernstein oversimplified the differences and that its changed since he conducted his research
cultural deprivation definition and 1 evaluation
most children begin to acquire basic values, attitudes and skills in order for educational success through primary socialisation - this creates aspirations and motivation to succeed - w/c families fail to socialise their children this way
* criticised for victim blaming saying w/c underachieve due to own and parents deficiencies rather thsn poverty etc
material deprivation
refers to poverty and lack of material necessities - FSM, poor attendance and truency is closely linked with educational achievement
* housing - direct effects=poor housing can affect achievement e.g overcrowded means harder to study, no desks for work, disturbed sleep from siblings etc
indirect effects=poor health and welfare e.g cold or damp housing
* diet and health - w/c kids have lower intake of energy, vitamins and minerals=weak immune system=absences from school
* cost of education - cant afford equipment and miss out on educational experiences
* fear of debt - w/c are scared of debt from uni so choose not to go and have less financial support from families while there
parental attitudes and education
Douglas concluded w/c parents placed less value on education = less ambitious for their children, gave less encouraging, visited less schools and dont attend parents evenings
Goodman and Greg + Feinstein found parents’ attitudes and education to be the most important factor in achievement
3 factors how this affects them
1. parenting style-parents with higher qualifications emphasise consistent discipline while no qualifiaction parents are harsh and tell them to do as theyre told
2. parents’ educational behaviours-more aware on what is needed to assist them
3. use of income-higher qualification parents=higher income to be spent of school books + toys
cultural capital definition
Bourdieu - 3 types of capital:
1. cultural capital-attitudes, values, tastes and abilities of m/c - through their socialisation they have the ability to grasp, analyse and express abstract ideas, more likely to develop intellectual interests - w/c dont have this leading to exam failure and truenting
2. eduactional and economic capital-better equipped to meet demands of school, can send kids to private school and pay for extra tuition
