Class differences In Achievment Flashcards
What are the two main explanations of class patterns in achievement
External factors: factors outside of school
Internal factors: within school/ education system
What are the two main factors in home background in relation to achievement?
Cultural factors: E.g. class differences in norms and values.
Material factors:
E.g. physical necessities of life- housing, diet and income.
What is the cultural deprivation theory?
Culture is the norms values and beliefs within a group of people. Culture is transmitted to the next generation through socialisation.
Different classes socialise their children differently and this may affect achievement.
Working class parents fail to transmit the appropriate norms values and attitudes that are needed for educational success.
What are the three factors responsible for working class under achievement?
- language
- parents education
- working class subcultures
What are working class parents less likely to do?
❌⛔️=📓📝📖=☹️
- Give their children educational toys
- less likely to read to them
puts WC children at a disadvantage compared to the MC children.
What does Basil Bernstein distinguish between elaborated and restricted speech codes?
Working class use restricted code- less analytical more descriptive. PARTICULARISTIC☹️
Middle class use elaborate code- more analytical, good vocab and complex sentences. UNIVERSALISTIC😁
What does Feinstein argue?
That parents own education is the most important factor affecting children’s achievement
Feinstein argues that a parents own education is the most important factor regarding a child’s academic achievement. What are the 4 sub factors of this theory?
Parenting style- educated parents have better discipline techniques.
Parents educational behaviour- educated parents are more aware of what helps their children progress (e.g. good relationships w teachers)
Language- the way a parent communicate affects children’s cognitive development
Use of income- educated parents spend their income to promote children’s development- e.g. educational toys.
What are the three MAIN factors of working class subcultures?
- Immediate gratification- “cash in hand culture”
- Fatalism (whatever will be will be)
- Low value on education- (sociologist HYMAN) argues that working class parents show less interest in their children’s education and give them less support ((e.g. parents evenings))
3 criticisms of the CULTURAL DEPRIVATION THEORY:
- ignore the importance of material factors such as poverty
- it ignores the impact of school factors e.g. negative labelling by teachers
- it blames he victim for failure (WC children are not deprived they just have a different culture etc.)
Material deprivation or poverty can cause working class under achievement because of factors such as?
- poor housing (cold/damp= frequent moves and changes of schools/ no where quiet to do homework)
- poor diet- can lead to ilness- school absences. lack of concentration due to hunger
🏠🍔💊
What’s the issue with financial costs of education in working class families?
Can’t afford educational opportunities e.g. trips computers or private tuition.
- children may be STIGMATISED or bullied for lacking the right uniform or latest fashion trends.
What is this cultural capital theory?
This theory is about both cultural and material factors.
Economic capital: the wealth that middle class families own.
Cultural capital: the attitudes, values, skills, knowledge etc of the middle class.
What are the four factors in underachievement in relation to class?
Labelling
The self fulfilling prophecy
Streaming
Pupil subcultures
What is labelling?
Meanings or definitions we attach to someone or something to make sense of them.
BECKER(1961) argues that teachers label middle class children as ideal pupils and prefer to teach them over working class students.
