Education Flashcards
Functionalist- Durkheim.
Identified 2 main functions of education.
Social Solidarity
Specialist Skills
What is social solidarity?
Functionalist view
Durkheim
individual member must feel themselves to be part of the community. Without social solidarity, social life and cooperation would be impossible because each individual would pursue their own (selfish) desires
How does education enforce social solidarity?
Functionalist view
Durkheim
By transmitting the society’s culture (beliefs and values) from one generation to the next. Teaching history instils a sense of shared heritage and a commitment to wider society groups.
What is society in miniature?
Functionalist view
Durkheim
The belief that school prepares us for wider society. Both in school and work people must interact.
Specialist Skills
Functionalist view
Durkheim
Education teaches individuals the specialist knowledge and skills that they need to play their part in the social division of labour
Functionalist- Parsons.
What is meritocracy?
Meritocracy is when everyone is given an equal opportunity, and individuals achieve rewards through their own efforts.
How does Parsons view school?
Functionalist view
Parson sees school as acting as a bridge between the family and wider society. This bridge is needed because family and society operate on different principles. Children need to be able to cope with the wider world
How is a child judged in the family?
Functionalist view- Parsons
In the family, the child is judged by particularistic standards. This is when rules apply only to that particular child.
In the family, what is a child’s status?
Functionalist view- Parsons
In the family, the child has an ascribed status. This means their status is fixed by birth, they are born with their status.
In school and wider society, how are people judged?
Functionalist view- Parsons
In school and wider society, people are judged by universalistic standards. This is when the same rules/laws apply to everyone.
In school and wider society, what is a person’s status?
Functionalist view- Parsons
In school and wider society, a person’s status is achieved. This means their status is achieved through their own personal efforts, such as job promotions and university qualifications.
What is role allocation?
Davis and Moore- functionalists
Selecting and allocating pupils to their future work roles. Schools help to match them to the job they are best suited to.
What do Davis and Moore believe?
Functionalists
They believe that inequality is necessary to ensure that the most important roles in society are filled by the most talented people. School encourages people to compete for those more important jobs by completing examinations.
What is human capital?
Paul Blau - functionalist
The economy’s worker’s skills
How does meritocratic society use its human capital?
Paul Blau- functionalist
It enables each person to be allocated to the job best suited to their abilities. This makes the most efficient use of their talents and maximises their productivity.
New right perspective on education (similar to functionalists)
Believe some people are naturally more talented than others, system is run on meritocratic principles, preparing young people for work, instill national identity and shared values
New Right main perspective on education
That the education system is not achieving their goals (eg: to prepare students for work), because it is run by the state. They believe state school are unresponsive and inefficient
What is New Right’s solution?
Marketisation of education- brings about competition between schools, which will lead to more consumer choice, and enable the schools to meet the needs of pupils, parents and employers, and bring out greater diversity
Consumer Choice- Chubb and Moe
Why do they believe the state system has failed?
They believe state schools have not created equal opportunity, failed the disadvantaged groups and failed to teach students skills for the economy. They think private schools are more answerable, and provide higher quality education
Introduction to the market system- Chubb and Moe
Consumer Choice
Puts control in the consumer’s hands to allow them to shape schools to meet their own needs and this would improve quality and efficiency
Consumer Choice- Chubb and Moe
By giving each family a voucher to spend on buying education from a school of their choice, this forces schools to be more responsive regarding parent wishes, because the vouchers would be the school’s main source of income. Schools would have to attract new customers by improving their ‘product’.
Two roles of the state
Althusser
1) impose framework within schools which they have to compete (ofsted inspections, league table of exam results)- helps parents make a more informed choice of school
2) transmit a shared culture
New Right perspective of the roles of the state
They think the state should affirm the national identity
Critiques of New Right-
(Marxists critic)
Marxists say that education does not impose a shared culture, instead it imposes a culture of the dominant minority ruling class, devaluing the culture of the working class
Critiques of New Right
what is the real reason for low educational standards?
Critics argue that the real cause of low educational standards is due to social inequality and inadequate funding for state schools
Critiques of New Right
Gewirtz and Ball
Gewirtz and Ball argue that the competition between schools only benefits the middle class, who use cultural and economic advantages to access more desirable schools
Critics of the Functionalist perspective
New right critic
New right critic argues that the educational system fails to prepare young people for work.
Critics of functionalists
Marxist
Marxists criticise functionalists as they believe that education only implements the ideology of the ruling class, not society as a whole
Marxist perspective of education
They believe that education is functioning to prevent revolution and maintain capitalist- preventing the proletariat from rebelling against the bourgeoisie.
Althusser- Marxist
Believes the state consists of 2 elements, to provide the bourgeoisie with power
Repressive state apparatus
Ideological state apparatus
What is the repressive state apparatus?
Althusser
Bourgeoisie maintain control through power or the threat of it (police, army, courts)
What is the ideological state apparatus?
Althusser
Bourgeoisie maintain power by controlling people’s ideas, values and beliefs (brainwashing)
What does the educational system perform?
Althusser
Education reproduces class inequality, by transmitting it from generation to generation
Education legitimates class inequality by producing ideologies- brainwashing workers to accept that inequality is inevitable and they deserve their subordinate position. If they accept these ideas, they are less likely to challenge capitalism
Bowels and Gintis view of education
They argue that capitalism needs a workforce that includes alienated and exploited workers, willing to accept hard work, low pay and orders. Education must reproduce obedient workers that accept inequality
Bowels and Gintis
Schooling in capitalist America
They studies 237 new york students and found that schools tend to reward students who are submissive, obedient and compliant workers
The correspondence principle
Bowels and Gintis
Argue that there are close parallels between school and work in capitalist society, the relationships and structures in school mirrors work. The correspondence system operates through the hidden curriculum
The hidden curriculum
Bowels and Gintis
The ‘lessons’ that are learnt in school without being directly taught. Schooling therefore prepares working class pupils for their role as exploited workers. (listen to the teacher=boss, be on time, follow rules)
The Myth of Meritocracy
Bowels and Gintis
They believe that meritocracy does not exist (everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve, rewards are based on own efforts, people who gain rewards are the most hardworking). Rewards are based on income and class, not their ability. The myth of meritocracy justifies the privileges of the higher classes
‘Poor are dumb’
Bowels and Gintis
Blames poverty on the individual, rather than blaming capitalism. This plays an important part in reconciling workers to their exploited position, making them less likely to rebel against the system
Willis: Learning to Labour
Marxists and Interactionist
His study shows that working class pupils can resist attempts to indoctrinate them. Focuses on how people’s situation helps them to resist indoctrination.
Willis’s study
The lads counter-culture
Use of qualitative research on 12 working class boys. The boys opposed the school, ‘taking the piss’ out of ‘ear’oles’ and girls. The lads find school meaningless and boring and flout the rules and values (smoking and drinking). This study shows that even people who rejected indoctrination ended up in unskilled work, that capitalism needs someone to perform.
Evaluation of Marxist approach
(critisisms)
Postmodernists argue that education now reproduces diversity, not inequality.
Small scale of 12 students is unlikely to be representative of other pupil’s experience
Feminists think Bowels and Gintis ignore the fact that schools reproduce not only capitalism, but also patriarchy
What are the external factors affecting class differences in achievement
Factors outside of the education system, such as class background, influence of home and wider society.
What is cultural deprivation
Children lack the cultural equipment needed to do well at school, therefore they underachieve
When do we begin to learn the values, attitudes and skills needed for educational success?
During primary socialisation in the family
Criticisms of cultural deprivation theory
Keddie
Assumptions- It is a form of victim blaming and it assumes that working class children underachieve due to their own deficiencies and their parents, rather than because of poor schools or poverty.
How does language affect educational achievement?
Language is essential for the process of education. The way in which parents communicate with their children affects their cognitive (intellectual) development and their ability to benefit from schooling
Restricted speech code
Bernstein
This is speech which has limited vocabulary and uses short, unfinished and grammatically simple sentences. This is used by the working class.
Elaborated speech code
Bernstein
Speech which has wider vocabulary with longer, grammatically correct and complex sentences. Used by MC
How do the differences in speech code put MC at an advantage and WC at a disadvantage?
Because teachers, exams and textbooks use the elaborate speech code. As MC children are taught this, they are already fluent when they start school, so they are more likely to succeed, whereas WC are less likely to succeed and more likely to feel excluded
Criticisms of Bernstein
Gaine and George say Bernstein is exaggerating and oversimplifying the differences between WC and MC speech patterns
Post Fordism
Society is now diverse and the economy is now based on flexible specialisation. Post-fordism system requires a skilled, adaptable workforce able to use advanced technology. Post fordism calls for an education system encourages self-motivation and creativity
What is fordism
capitalism requires low-skilled workers willing to put up with alienating work on the assembly lines, school prepares people for this exploited work
Explain middle class occupations
Non manual occupations, such as doctors, teachers, business owners, managers or other ‘white collar’ workers
Explain working class occupations
Manual occupations, such as plumbers, semi skilled workers such as lorry drivers, unskilled workers such as cleaners
Working class subculture meaning
Sugarman
Values and attitudes are different from those of the mainstream culture. Cultural deprivation theories suggest the WC have different goals and values which is why the WC children fail at school
Fatalism
Sugarman
WC- believe in fate, “what will be will be”, cannot change status
MC- emphasise meritocracy, individuals can change their position
Collectivism
Sugarman
WC- value being apart of a group rather than succeeding as an individual
MC- individuals should not be held back from success because of group loyalties
Immediate gratification
Sugarman
WC- seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices to get rewards in the future
MC- believe in deferred gratification, making sacrifices now for greater rewards later
Present time orientation
Sugarman
WC- see the present as more important than the future, don’t have long term plans
MC- future time orientation, see planning for the future as more important
How does parents education affect child’s achievement in school?
Douglas
Working class parents places less value on education, were less ambitious of their children achieving, shared less interest, less likely to come to parents evening. This meant the children has low motivation and achievement
Feinstein
How does parenting style affect a child’s achievement?
Parents with higher qualifications emphasise consistent discipline and high expectations and encourage learning and exploration.
Parents with fewer qualifications apply harsh inconsistent discipline which prevents the child from learning independence and self-control, leading to poorer motivation and problems with teachers
Feinstein
How does Parental educational behaviour affect achievement?
Parents with higher qualifications are more aware of what is needed to assist child’s educational progress. They engage in reading, teaching alphabet, numbers, songs, nursery rhymes, paintings, drawings, helping with homework, and being actively involved in their schooling and learning.
Feinstein
How does income affect a child’s achievement?
MC- Higher income means they are more likely to be able to afford educational toys, books, activities (museums) to stimulate intellectual development. They have a higher understanding of nutrition for child’s development
WC- more likely to lack these resources so their children may start school with a lack of skills
Feinstein conclusion
Parental education has an influence on children’s achievement regardless of class or income. This suggests why some WC students do better than parents, or why MC students aren’t as equally successful than their parents
What is compensatory education?
Aims to tackle cultural deprivation by providing extra resources to schools and communities in deprived areas. For example the Sure Start programme.
Criticisms of cultural deprivation theory
Victim blaming- blames the victims for their own failure.
Culturally different- Keddie argues WC children are culturally different, not deprived, and they fail because education system is dominated by MC values.
Labelling-cultural derivation leads to underachievement by acting as a negative label that teachers apply to WC families.
Parental interest- WC parents may not attend parents evening/ share interest due to working long and irregular hours, and are put off by the schools MC atmosphere.
What is material deprivation
Lack of material necessities (income, housing) needed to do well at school
How can housing directly affect pupil achievement?
Overcrowding makes it harder for students to study or do homework. Sharing a bedroom may mean disturbed sleep or no where to do homework. Moving house frequently results in moving school and disrupted education.
How can housing indirectly affect pupil achievement?
Poor housing results in bad health and welfare resulting in absences from school. Cold and damp housing causes ill health. Temporary housing results in psychological stress, infections, and accidents.
Diet and Health
Howard
WC are less likely to not be able to afford vitamins and minerals.. This weakens the immune system and lowers energy levels, resulting in absences and lack of concentration
Diet and Health
Wilkinson
WC children are more likely to have a high rate of hyperactivity, anxiety, and conduct disorders.
Diet and Health
Blanden and Machin
low income children are more likely to engage in externalising behaviour, such as fighting and tantrums, which disrupt schooling
‘The cost of free schooling’
Bull
Bull found that parents have to purchase uniform, shoes, stationery, trips. tuition, books etc. This places a burden on poorer families and as a result kids receive hand-me-downs and cheaper, unfashionable equipment, resulting in being isolated and bullied.
Financial support
Flaherty
Flaherty argues fear of stigmatisation explains why 20% of students elegible for free school meals do not chose to have them. This is because of MC students teasing.
Fear of debt
Callender and Jackson
WC attitude towards debt was important in choosing whether or not to apply for uni. WC are 5 times less likely to apply than MC.
What percentage of uni students are WC
30%
Fear of debt
Reay
WC students are more likely to apply for local universities and live at home to avoid paying travel costs and housing. Therefore they have less opportunity to access higher status uni and therefore difficult to gain higher degrees.
Criticisms of material deprivation theory
Some children from poorer families do succeed, this suggests that material deprivation is only part of the explanation into class differences in achievement
what is cultural capital
Bourdieu
the knowledge, attitude, vaules, language, tastes, and abilities of the middle class. Gives the middle class an advantage in education as they can grasp analyse and express abstract ideas
what is educational capital
Bourdieu
qualifications- an advantage for mc as they can afford private schooling and tuition
what is economic capital
Bourdieu
your wealth- mc are advantaged because they have a lot of money to spend on education
what is social capital
Bourdieu
the people you know and interact with
Test of Bourdieu’s idea
Alice Sullivan
Sullivan
465 pupils
Asked them about what activities they participate in (tv, reading, museums, theaters etc).
She found that those who read complex fiction and watched documentaries developed wider vocab and greater cultural knowledge- more likely to be successful at GCSE
Sullivan’s conclusion
the greater resources and aspirations of mc families explains the class gap in achievement
What is labelling?
process of defining a person/group in a certain way, as a ‘type of person’. Basing your opinion on a stereotype
How did teachers judge people according to Becker?
they judged people according to how closely they fit the ideal student
What type of child would be the ideal student?
Middle class children
What did Hempel-Jorgensen find about teachers attitudes towards children?
WC school- students were defined by their behaviour not ability
MC school- defined based on academic ability
Labelling in secondary schools
Gazeley
Teachers normalised underachievement of WC, unconcerned and felt there was no solution. Labelled WC parents as uninterested and MC as supportive
Labelling in primary schools
Rists
Teacher used home background and appearance to place them in separate groups (tables). Showed MC more encouragement, sat closer to the desk.
What is the halo effect
When pupils become stereotypes on the basis of earlier expectations (if a student was polite, assume they are smart)
What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?
A prediction that comes true simply by virtue of it having been made
What are the steps to a self-fulfilling prophecy
1) teacher labels pupil
2) teacher treats students based on label/prediction
3) pupil internalises expectation
Teacher’s expectations Rosenthal and Jacobsen
Informed the teacher of students which are ‘spurters’. Teacher treated these differently(gave more attention) and 47% made improvement. Demonstrates SFP by accepting the prediction and it worked (the kids improved)
What is streaming
Separating children into different ability groups/classes for all subjects. If student was low stream for maths, same for all other subjects.
How does streaming create a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Pupils live up to teachers expectations low/high expectations by (under)achieving
What class tends to benefit from streaming?
Middle class
What is the A-C economy?
Gillborn and Youdell
By publishing school league tables, schools focus time, effort and resources on those who have A-C grade potential, to boost their position in the league table.
What is educational triage
Those who will pass anyway X
Hopeless cases X
Borderline C-D pupils, targeted for extra help +
what are the Pupil subcultures
Lacey
pro school
anti school
What is differentiation?
Categorising pupils according to how their ability is perceived (streams)
What is polarisation?
Pupils response to streaming by joining extremes (pro/anti school)
The pro-school subculture
Lacey
High streams, committed to values of school, academic success
The anti-school subculture
Lacey
Low streams, loss of self esteem, undermined, inferior so they rebel by breaking rules
Abolishing streaming
Ball
Ball is in favour of mixed-ability groups to reduce anti-school subculture. Differentiation continued, labelling MC students as more able compared to others. Class inequalities continue without streaming and subcultures.
What does Wood argue are other responses to labelling and streaming?
Ingratiation- teachers pet
Ritualism- no interest but does as told
Retreatism- mucking about
Rebellion- rejection of all school rules and values
criticism of labelling theory
Furlong
Student may act differently depending on the lesson and/or the teacher
Criticism of labelling theory
Fuller
Assumes all pupils who are labelled have no choice but to fulfill that prophecy. Studied 2 black girls who were labelled, and worked hard to prove the teacher wrong.
Criticism of labelling theory
Marxist
Fails to explain why teachers label and teachers work in a system which reproduces class inequality
Define habitus
Learned ways of thinking, acting, and being that is associated with a class
Which class has superior habitus?
middle class and wc habitus is seen as inferior
What is symbolic capital?
Status and recognition from school and these pupils are deemed to have worth or value (middle class due to their habitus, devaluing the WC habitus).
What is symbolic violence?
As WC habitus is devalued and inferior, symbolic violence keeps the working class ‘in their place’
Which class habitus does education have and what does this lead to?
Middle class habitus, leading to WC having an alien and unnatural experience at school, Archer found that they sometimes change how they spoke and presented themselves in order to conform, the process of ‘losing yourself’
What are Nike Identities?
Symbolic violence led WC to seek alternative ways of creating self worth, particularly through styles, as a ‘way of being me’ and gaining symbolic capital and approval from peers (prevent bullying).
How did teacher’s respond to Nike Identities?
Nike Identities caused conflict with the dress code, and as teachers opposed ‘street styles’, it resulted in further sanctions for WC- risking being labelled as rebellious
Why do WC pupils reject higher education?
Seen as unrealistic (unaffordable, not for people ‘like us’) and undesirable (doesn’t suit their preferred habitus)
What is the result of Nike Identities?
Pupils may chose self-exclusion from education and actively chose to reject it, because it doesn’t fit in with their habitus
Explain Ingram’s study of the link between working class identities and educational success
A group of WC boys, go to grammar school (MC habitus), tried to fit in, tension between WC habitus and MC school. One boy was ridiculed for his WC habitus (tracksuit) and made feel worthless
Explain the conclusion of Ingram’s study of the link between WC identity and educational success
WC pupils are forced to abandon their “worthless” working class identity, in order to achieve educational success
Explain Evan’s study about link between class identity and self exclusion
Evans studied 21 girls studying A-Levels, who are reluctant to apply for elite uni’s because they feel they wouldn’t fit in, instead they had an attachment to locality. Therefore, self exclusion narrows the options for WC and limits their success
What does Bourdeiu say about self exclusion?
Many WC say elite uni’s are not for people like them, and therefore exclude themselves from the opportunity to succeed
What is the overall link between class identity and self exclusion
As the education system devalues WC habitus, WC pupils are forced to chose between keeping their identity or abandoning them and conforming to MC habitus of schools, in order to succeed.
Give 2 examples of the relationship between internal and external factors
WC pupils using restricted code (external) may lead to labelling from teachers (internal).
Poverty (external) may lead to bullying from peer groups (internal), therefore leading to lack of attendance and truanting
what is the gender gap in achievement when children start school
girls are ahead of boys in physical development, literacy, language, maths and personal social and emotional development
what is the gender gap in achievement at GCSE level
3/4 girls grades passed at level 4 or above but only 2/3 boys
what is the gender gap in achievement at AS and A level
girls are more likely to sit, pass and get higher grades than boys
what is the gender gap in achievement on vocational courses
larger proportion of girls achieve distinctions in every subject, including those in engineering and construction
what are the external factors that impact gender differences in achievement
the impact of feminism, changes in the family, changes in women’s employment and girls changing ambitions
how does feminism externally impact the gender gap in achievement
changes in stereotypes of women’s role and improvements in women’s rights has raised women’s self-esteem and expectations
explain how McRobbie’s study of girls magazines
magazines no longer emphasised the importance of marriage and now contain images of independent and assertive women
explain McRobbie’s idea of bedroom culture
Girls are more successful because they spend more time inside studying and being organised whereas boys go out and play
how can changes in the family externally influence the gender gap in achievement
increase in divorce lead to more single mothers heading households and therefore provide a new role model for girls and encourages independence. To achieve this independence girls need to gain qualifications and therefore work harder to pursue a good career
explain how changes to women’s employment has lead to the gender gap in achievement
equal pay act and sex discrimination act encouraged girls to see their future in paid work not housework, giving them an incentive to gain good qualifications
explain Sharpe’s study of how girls ambitions have changed
1970- girls saw marriage and children as a priority and saw education as unfeminine
1990s- careers and independence was a priority, girls saw themselves as independent women rather than dependent on husbands
how does girls changing ambitions lead to an increase in the gender gap in achievement
Girls realised that in order to achieve independence and have a good career, they need a good education and therefore they work harder
what are the class differences in girls changing ambitions
wc have gender stereotyped aspirations as their limited aspirations reflects their limited job opportunities
what are the internal factors which impact the gender gap in achievement
equal opportunities policies, positive role models, GCSE and coursework, teacher attention, challenging stereotypes and selection and league tables
explain how equal opportunities policies lead to a gap in gender achievement
Boaler
GIST and WISE policies encourage girls into non-traditional careers such as engineering. Schooling becomes more meritocratic and therefore girls achieve more than boys as their options are no longer limited
how did the National Curriculum lead to a gender gap in achievement
removed source of inequality in schools so that boys and girls now studied the same subjects
explain how positive role models for girls leads to a gender gap in achievement
female teachers and headteachers act as role models for girls and shows them that they can achieve levels of importance. Therefore girls must work hard in order to achieve these positions
explain how the introduction to GCSE and coursework led to the gender gap in achievement
Mitsos and Browne
Girls are more successful in coursework and GCSE as they are better organised, meet deadlines, spend more time and take better care of their work. This lead to girls benefitting and succeeding more than boys
why do girls benefit better during oral exams
primary socialization- parents are more likely to read stories to daughters than sons
explain how teacher attention leads to a gender gap in achievement
girls receive positive attention and therefore are encouraged and praised which promotes girls self esteem, where boys are usually given attention by being disciplined
explain how changing stereotypes in the curriculum leads to a larger gender gap in achievement
removal of gender stereotypes from textbooks and reading schemes raises girls achievements by presenting more positive images of what women are capable of, rather than them being perceived as housewives and mothers and men as mathematicians and scientists
explain how selection and league tables lead to a gender gap in achievement
created a more competitive climate in which schools see girls as more desirable because they achieve better in exams. Creates a self fulfilling prophecy for girls to do better than boys. Boys may be seen as liability students and are obstacles which prevent the school improving its league table scores
what are the two views of girls achievement
liberal feminists and radical feminists
how do liberal feminists view girls achievement
celebrate the progress made in achievement but further progress should be made by the continuing development of equal opportunities policies and positive role models
how do radical feminists view girl’s achievement
recognize that girls are achieving more but the school system remains patriarchal due to sexual harassments, limited subject choices for girls, more male headteachers of secondary schools and under-representation of women in the curriculum
what is symbolic capital
Archer
status recognition and sense of worth that we are able to obtain from others
how does symbolic capital influence the differences in girls achievement
girls perform their working class identities and therefore gain symbolic capital from their peers, but this led to conflict with the school therefore preventing them from gaining educational capital and economic capital
what does Archer say girls adopted to create a sense of self worth
hyper-heterosexual feminine identity (having a boyfriend and being loud)
what are hyper-heterosexual feminine identities
glamorous and desirable identities which girls invested money and time into (‘sexy’ clothes, make-up, hairstyles, sportswear)
what did hyper heterosexual feminine identities lead to in regards to peer groups
bought girls status from their peers and avoided bullying by conforming to the ‘norm’.
what did hyper heterosexual feminine identities lead to in regards to the school
led to conflict with the school and girls were punished for the ‘wrong’ identities by wearing too much jewelry, wrong clothing and makeup. The girls were disregarded and less worthy of respect which is known as symbolic violence
define symbolic violence
harm done by denying someone symbolic capital (regarding their culture as insignificant)
what is the schools view of the ideal female pupil in Archer’s view
de-sexualised middle class girls
how does having boyfriends lead to differences in girls achievement
having a bf led to gaining symbolic capital but it got in the way of school work and lowered girls aspirations (loss of interest in uni, not interested in masculine subjects) they would rather settle down and become mothers and wives
how would being loud lead to differences in girls achievement
being loud and outspoken showed that girls failed to conform to schools stereotype of the ideal female student as submissive and therefore led to conflict with teachers
what is the dilemma wc girls are therefore faced with due to their hyper heterosexual feminine identity
either gain symbolic capital from peers and conform to hyper heterosexual feminine identities OR gain educational capital by rejecting their WC identity and conforming to the school, leading to their self worth being damaged
what is the common feature of more successful working class girls regarding higher education
more successful WC girls want to go to uni, however this is prevented due to the fear of debt and the costs associated with accommodation which meant WC girls attended more local uni’s which results in self exclusion from elite uni’s
what are the reasons for boys underachievement
boys literacy, globalisation and the decline of traditional male jobs, feminisation of education, shortage of male teachers and laddish subcultures
how does boys literacy lead to their underachievement according to the DCSF
boys have poorer literacy than girls which may be a result of parents not reading to their sons and therefore boys see reading as a feminine activity. Boys leisure activities (football) also does not develop their language skills opposite to girls bedroom culture
what has been put in place to aid boys literacy
government policies such as dad and sons, reading champions scheme, raising boys achievement project, and playing for success
how does globalisation lead to the decline in male traditional jobs
manufacturing industry relocates to developing countries such as China to take advantage of cheap labour.
how does the decline in male traditional jobs lead to boys underachievement
Mitsos and Browne
decline in masculine jobs led to an identity crisis for men as boys lack motivation to get a proper job and self-esteem so they give up trying to gain qualifications
how does the feminisation of education lead to boys underachievement
Sewell
schools do not nurture masculine traits of competition and leadership and instead celebrate traits associated with girls such as attentiveness. There should be more emphasis on outdoor activities to advantage boys
how does the shortage of male primary school teachers lead to boys underachievement
lack of male role models and more female-headed lone families leads to underachievement. Male teachers encourage boys to behave better due to being more strict and able to control their behaviour unlike female teachers which makes boys concentrate better and learn
