Education: Differential Achievement Class

Question 1

What are the 4 internal factors affecting differential achievement in class?

Answer 1

Self fulfilling prophecy
Streaming
Pupil Subcultures
Class identities and achievement

Question 2

What is meant by self fulfilling prophecy in terms of the internal factors affecting class?

Answer 2

Teachers create self fulfilling prophecies through labels they attach. Teachers believe middle class children are bright and therefore succeed whereas working class pupils are labelled negatively. Studies have shown what teachers believe pupils achieve

Question 3

What is meant by streaming in terms of an internal factor affecting class?

Answer 3

This is an extreme form of labelling where students are separated into ability groups, the working class are likely to be placed into the lower sets.

Question 4

Give two case studies into streaming

Answer 4

Lacey 1970 - She describes streaming as differentiation, a way of separating the sheep from the goats and educating them differently

Douglas - he found children out in lower streams from age 8 declined in IQ by age 11 as they were denied the same curriculum such as excluding them from higher level exams

Question 5

What are the two types of pupil Subcultures is part of the internal factors affecting class achievement?

Answer 5

Pro School Subcultures - formed by pupils from higher streams they accept schools values of hard work

Anti School Subcultures - formed by those n lower streams who flaunt behaviour and disrespect teachers. Pupils create their own status hierarchy because school deprives them as acting like failures

Question 6

What is meant by class identities and achievement

Answer 6

Schools hold the same habitus (a social classes way of thinking) with the middle classes and therefore making the working class feel devalued through symbolic violence

Question 7

Give two sociologists that looked at class identities and achievement

Answer 7

Ingrim 2009

Evans 2009

Question 8

What did Ingrim say about class identities and achievement?

Answer 8

Ingrim 2009
He found fitting in was a problem for working class grammar school boys because they faced a conflict with their neighbourhood habitus and their middle class school habitus. The school would see them as worthless for wearing street clothes and vice versus

Question 9

What did Evans say about class identities and achievement?

Answer 9

Ingrim 2009
Found successful working class girls faced conflict as they had strong attachment bonds to their families but that behaviour did not fit in with middle class universities

Question 10

What did Becker say about Labelling in differential achievement of class?

Answer 10

Becker 1971
He found 60 high school teachers judge according to how how closely they fit with the ideal pupil. The ideal pupil was someone who fits the ideal of work conduct and appearance usually associated with the middle class. The working class were the furthest away

Question 11

What are the 3 external factors cultural deprivation affecting class achievement?

Answer 11

Working class Subcultures
Parents education
Language

Question 12

What is meant by working class Subcultures in terms of external class achievement?

Answer 12

The working class want immediate gratification, rewards now rather than being willing to work hard for future rewards

Fatalism; they believe that whatever will be will be, working class children don’t believe they can improve their position through social mobility

The have a low value on education, they don’t believe they benefit and parents take little interest in child’s school life

Question 13

What is meant by parents education in terms of affecting class achievement?

Answer 13

Since middle class parents are best educated their children have an advantage
Parenting style- educated parents give more discipline and have high expectations
Use of income- they spend their money on educational toys

Question 14

What is meant by language in terms of class achievement?

Answer 14

Working class have a restricted code and so they use simple sentences and less vocab when communicating with their children

Middle class have an elaborated code and therefore are more analytic using complex sentences and a range of vocabulary to communicate with their children

Question 15

What are the two criticism of the external; cultural deprivation theory affecting class?

Answer 15

It is victim blaming, critics believe they’re not deprived they just have a different culture to that of schools

It ignores the internal factors

Question 16

What are the 3 external factors material deprivation affecting class achievement?

Answer 16

Poor housing and diet
Financial cost of education
Cultural capital theory

Question 17

What is the affect of poor housing and diet on class achievement?

Answer 17

Overcrowding or cold room means pupils have nowhere to do their homework. Poor diet can lead to illness and absences in school as well as a lack of concentration

Question 18

What is the impact of the financial cost of education on class achievement

Answer 18

Poverty acts as a barrier as not able to afford extra tuition or school trips. Working class were more debt adverse and this influenced decision over university

Question 19

What is the impact of cultural capital theory on class achievement?

Answer 19

It suggest material and cultural factors contribute to achievement. Middle class is more successful because they possess more capital