class external Flashcards
working class
manual occupations (skilled workers)
middle class
non-manual occupations
traditionally include professionals
e.g doctors, teachers
external factors
outside influences
cultural, material deprivation
cultural capital
internal factors
labelling, subcultures, marketisation
cultural deprivation
lacking in values and attitudes, language, self discipline, intellect and reasoning
this starts with primary socialisation
Bereiter and Engelmann (1966)
claim the language used in lower class homes is deficient (restricted speech codes)
Douglas (1964) and Feinstein (2008)
parental attitudes and education
parenting style
educated/ uneducated parents
discipline
educated parents - emphasise consistent discipline and high expectations by encouraging active learning
less educated parents - marked by harsh or inconsistent disciplines that emphasises ‘doing what you’re told’ preventing independence and self control
use of income
educated parents - often spend income in ways to benefit their children e.g educational toys, games encouraging reasoning skills
less educated/ working class - choose to spend money in ways that don’t improve their child’s intellectual development
class, income and parental education
children with better educated parents tend to do better in school - this could explain differences in classes
an educated parent understands the value to education and whats needed for their child’s success
parents educational behaviours
educated parents - know whats needed for their Childs success, more likely to engage in activities that will benefit them e.g reading to them , visiting museums and libraries
working class parents are generally less educated and therefore see less value in this
elaborated code
wider vocabulary, complex sentences, communicated abstract ideas, context free
generally middle and upper class
restricted code
limited vocabulary, simple sentences, descriptive ( not analytical), context bound
generally working class
subculture
norms and values that do not fit the mainstream culture
Barry Sugarman (1970)
argues the working class subculture has 4 key attitudes that act as a barrier to educational achievement
- collectivism
- immediate gratification
- fatalism
- present time orientation
collectivism
the value of being part of a group, more than succeeding as an individual middle class values often emphasise personal success
immediate gratification
seeking pleasures now rather than making sacrifices in order to get rewards in the future
fatalism
the idea that you cannot change your status or position in society as ‘whatever will be, will be’
present time orientation
seeing the present as more important than the future and therefore not having long term goals
material deprivation ( 4 examples)
housing
diet and health
cost of schooling
fear of debt and other financial issues
cost of schooling - David Bull (1980)
‘cost of free schooling’ and children from poor families often miss out on resources and trips.
diet and health
W/C may not invest their money in healthier foods its cheeper to by frozen/ microwaved (less healthy) foods.
packet of biscuits 50p packet of apples over £1
poor diet - lower immune system - more absences
high sugar diet - child hyper/ ratty - teacher disciplining child quicker - gets in more trouble at school
foods lacking in nutrition lack energy - child sluggish and tired don’t participate in work
housing
overcrowding - no space to complete homework/ study very noisy
dampness and poor conditions - children become ill
Washbrook suggests that this battle with illness leads to more time off school and therefore less learning
temporary accommodation - if the local council want to rehouse the family, they may be moved numerous times. of the family are renting privately via housing benefits then landlords may request them to move
can result in multiple school changes and less learning
focus on making new friends
different schools have different curriculems
fear of debt and other financial issues
higher education can create lots of debt
university fees, living accommodation and resources may put W/C students off further education
Jackson (2005)
National Union of students (2010)
Reay (2005)
dropout rates are higher for the WC - 16.6% dropout at London Met - larger WC intake, compared to 1.5% at Oxford - half students from private schools