Class differences in achievement - External factors Flashcards
What external factors affect class achievement?
Cultural deprivation
Material deprivation
Cultural capital
What are the main aspects of cultural deprivation?
Language
Parents’ education
Working class subculture
How does language contribute to cultural deprivation?
Hubbs-Tait: Educated parents were likely to get their children to use challenging language and evaluate their own abilities. Whereas, working-class parents use language that only requires children to make small, descriptive comments.
Bernstein: He found differences between working class and middle class language:
- Restricted code: Used by working-class, limited vocabulary and use of short, context-bound sentences.
- Elaborated code: Used by middle class, wider vocabulary and use of longer, complex sentences.
Why are those that use the elaborated code at an advantage?
The elaborated code is used by teachers and in textbooks/exams so middle-class children are already fluent and they feel ‘at home’ in school but it’s something that must be learned by the working-class children.
How does parental education contribute to cultural deprivation?
Douglas: Working class parents place less importance on education so they give less encouragement and take less interest in their education.
Feinstein: Middle class parents tend to be better educated so middle class children have an advantage due to parenting style, use of income and educational behaviour.
In what ways are middle class children at an advantage according to Feinstein?
Parenting style: Middle class parents have consistent discipline and encourage active learning but working class parents emphasise 'do as they are told' so working class children are less motivated and lack independence. Parents' educational behaviour: Middle class parents know how to assist their child e.g. reading books to them and can establish good relationships with teachers. Use of income: Bernstein and Young found that middle class mothers are more likely to buy educational toys to stimulate intellectual development but working class children lack these resources so they start school without intellectual skills.
How does working class subculture contribute to cultural deprivation?
Sugarman: He argues that there are 4 key features that prevent working class children from achieving:
- Fatalism: A belief in fate - there’s nothing you can do to change your status.
- Collectivism: Being part of a group is more important than succeeding as a individual.
- Immediate gratification: Seeking pleasures now rather than making sacrifices to get future rewards.
- Present time orientation: Seeing present as more important and lack of long term goals.
What is compensatory education?
Compensatory education aims to reduce cultural deprivation by providing extra resources to schools and communities in deprived areas.
Criticism of Cultural deprivation
Keddie: She describes cultural deprivation as a ‘myth’ and argues that working-class children are culturally different and fail because they’re at a disadvantage by an education system that benefits the middle class.
Blackstone and Mortimore: Working-class parents attend fewer parents’ evenings due to long work hours and they may want to help their children but lack knowledge and education.
What is cultural deprivation?
The theory that many working-class and black children are inadequately socialised therefore lack the ‘right’ culture needed for educational success.
What is material deprivation?
The lack of material necessities such as adequate housing and income.
What points can be made about material deprivation?
Housing
Diet and health
Financial support
Fear of debt
How does housing contribute to material deprivation?
- Overcrowding means less room for educational activities and nowhere to do homework.
- Lack of safe space for children to explore and play.
- Sharing a room can lead to disturbed sleep.
- Cold housing can cause ill health and lead to absences from school.
How do diet and health contribute to material deprivation?
Howard: Children from poorer homes have low intakes of energy and minerals which affects their health by weakening the immune system leading to more absences from school and difficulty concentrating in class.
Blanden and Machin: Children from poor families are more likely to engage in fighting and temper tantrums which causes disruptions in school.
How does financial support contribute to material deprivation?
Lack of financial support means children from poor families have to do without equipment and miss out on experiences that would enhance their educational achievement.
Smith and Noble: Children from poor families can’t afford private schooling or tuition and go to local schools.
Ridge: Children from low-income families often need to work which can have a negative impact on their schoolwork.
