Education Flashcards
What is cultural deprivation?
Not having the cultural equipment required to do well at school.
Caused by families failing to adequately socialise their children.
Leads to underachieving w/c pupils.
What are the factors affecting cultural deprivation?
Language
Parent’s education
Working class subculture
Who came up with the idea of speech codes and describe the two types.
BERNSTEIN suggested that there are different speech codes used by the different classes.
Elaborated speech code:
Used by the middle class. Complex, analytic and context free. Also used in schools.
Restricted speech code
Used by the working class. Simple, descriptive and context bound. Devalued by schools
Describe 3 ways in which parental education affects achievement
- Parenting style
Educated parents are more likely to emphasise consistent discipline and high expectations. Less educated parents are more likely to use harsh or inconsistent discipline which emphasises ‘doing as you’re told. - Parents’ educational behaviours Educated parents actively assist in their child’s educational progress such as by reading to them and helping with their homework. They can also seek expert advice and have good relationships with teachers.
- Use of income
BERNSTEIN AND YOUNG - middle class mothers are more likely to buy educational toys, books and activities for their children while working class homes are more likely to lack these resources.
What are the features of a w/c subculture?
SUGARMAN suggested that the features are:
• Fatalism
The belief in fate and there being no way to change your status.
• Collectivism
Placing more value on being part of a group than on succeeding as an individual
• Immediate gratification
Seeking rewards immediately instead of making sacrifices for future rewards
• Present time orientation
Thinking that the present is more important than the future and so not setting any long term goals or plans
Who said cultural deprivation is a myth?
KEDDIE believes that cultural deprivation is a myth. It is a victim blaming explanation and w/c children are culturally different not culturally deprived. They fail because they are disadvantaged by the education system which is dominated by m/c values.
Apart from Keddie, what other criticisms of cultural deprivation are there?
-BLACKSTONE AND MORTIMORE reject DOUGLAS’ view that w/c parents aren’t interested in their children’s education and say that they may want to help their child progress but they lack the knowledge and education to do so.
- TROYNA AND WILLIAMS criticise BERNSTEIN and say that the problem isn’t the child’s language but the school’s attitude towards it. Teachers have a ‘speech hierarchy’ placing m/c speech at the top followed by w/c speech and then black speech.
Ideas of other CD theorists
DOUGLAS - study found that w/c parents place less value on education, giving them less encouragement which led to their underachievement
FEINSTEIN - parents education is the most important factor affecting children’s achievement and since m/c parents tend to be better educated, they can give their children an advantage through how they socialise them
BEREITER AND ENGELMANN - the language used in lower class homes is deficient and they communicate using gestures, single words or disjointed phrases, leading them to grow up in sole of abstract thinking. Therefore they can’t take the opportunities offered to them.
What method is used to tackle cultural deprivation?
Compensatory education. It provides extra resources to schools and communities in deprived areas.
Example 1: Operation Head Start (US)
It improved parenting skills and instilled achievement motivation.
Example 2: Sure Start (UK)
Their aim is to work with parents to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children. However since 2011 there have been cuts in funding and many centres have been closed.
What is material deprivation?
This is poverty and a lack of material necessities required to do well at school.
What factors are included in material deprivation?
Housing
Diet and health
Financial support and costs of education
Fear of debt
Who suggested that poor diet and health leads to underachievement?
HOWARD suggests that young people from poorer homes have poor nutrition which affects health such as lowering energy levels. This can lead to more absences from school or difficulty concentrating in class which leads to underachievement.
What are the direct and indirect impacts of housing on achievement?
Direct: eg overcrowding
This means less room for educational activities and doing homework. These conditions may lead to constant changes of school and disrupted education.
Indirect: eg health
Crowded homes increase risks of accidents. Cold or damp housing can cause ill health. These can increase absences from school.
Name the two sociologists who suggested ways in which lack of financial support and the costs of education affect achievement.
TANNER ET AL- study found that the cost of resources needed for school places a heavy burden on poor families leading to children having to make do with cheap things which can result in isolation or stigmatisation
FLAHERTY - says that fear of stigmatisation explains why 20% of those eligible for free school meals don’t take up their entitlement.
Who said that debt averse students are less likely to apply to university?
CALLENDER AND JACKSON - fear of debt means debt averse students are 5x less likely to apply to university than debt tolerant students.
