Class External- Cultural Deprivation

Question 1

Cultural deprivation

Answer 1

• Lack of basic values, attitudes and skills needed for educational success including language, self-discipline and reasoning skills.
• Cultural deprivation theorists argue working class families fail to socialise their children adequately becoming deprived of culture

Question 2

Effect of cultural deprivation

Answer 2

• If children fail to socialise and obtain ‘cultural equipment’ they grow up ‘ culturally deprived ‘ leading to underachieving in education
• 3 main aspects of cultural deprivation: language, parents education and working class subculture

Question 3

Cultural deprivation - Language

Answer 3

CD theorists sees social class links to differences in language and that parents communication affects children’s development and ability. 
Engelman ‘ language used in lower class families is deficient as communication is simple through gestures, single words and disjointed phrases. 
-> children fail to develop necessary language skills and abstract thinking

Question 4

Cultural deprivation - Language (Speech codes)

Answer 4

Bernstein identifies differences between WC and MC language that influence achievement
Restricted code-typically used by WC;limited vocabulary, short simple sentences, not abstract or analytical.
Elaborated code- typically used by MC;wider vocabulary, varied complex sentences, abstract.

Question 5

Cultural deprivation - Impact of speech codes

Answer 5

Differences give MC advantage over WC as elaborated code is language used by teachers and exams, seen as correct and essential skill for education.
MC children feel more comfortable at school and ^ likely to succeed
WC children feel excluded and lacking -> less successful

Question 6

Cultural deprivation - Parents education and attitudes (Working Class)

Answer 6

• CD theorists claim parents attitudes to education affect children’s development. *Douglas study * showed WC parents place less value on education.
• WC parents had less encouragement, less involvement with less visits and least likely to discuss children’s progress -> lower level of motivation and achievement.

Question 7

Cultural deprivation - Parents education and attitudes (Middle Class)

Answer 7

Middle class parents tend to be better educated -> able to educate and socialise children better.
MC parents show consistent discipline and high expectations encouraging learning.

Question 8

Cultural deprivation - Working class subculture

Answer 8

Cultural deprivation theorists argue that lack of parental interest in their children’s education reflects subcultural values of WC.
CD theorists say large sections of WC have different attitudes and goals from society -> hence why children fail at school.

Question 9

Cultural deprivation - WC Subculture (Barry Sugarman)

Answer 9

Claims WC subculture has 4 features that barrier educational achievement:
Fatalism- a belief in fate (nothing can be done to change status)
Collectivism- valuing group more than success as individual
Immediate gratification-seeking rewards now rather than sacrificing for rewards later
Present time orientation-present is more important than future

Question 10

Criticisms of cultural deprivation

Answer 10

Keddie-argues WC children not deprived but culturally different and fail due to education system suited for MC values -> schools need to adapt to WC values.
Williams- argues problem is not WC language, is schools attitudes due to teachers speech hierachy with MC highest and WC lowest
Other critics reject the view that WC aren’t interested. WC parents can’t attend parents evening because of longer work hours compared to MC.