ethnic differences in achievement - external factors - cultural deprivation

Question 1

what is ethnicity?

Answer 1

the fact or state of belonging to a social group which has a common national or cultural tradition

Question 2

bereiter and engelmann (1966)

old study

Answer 2

the language spoken in low income, black, american families is inadequate for educational success

Question 3

criticisms of beireiter and engelmann

Answer 3

labov - black americans speech is perfectly logical

baker and bell - said its anti black linguistic racism

Question 4

attitudes and values

Answer 4

different ethnic groups are socialised into different attitudes or values

this includes lack of motivation

cultural deprivation theorists claim black children are socialised into a fatalistic attitudes which doesn’t value education

Question 5

family structure and parental support

Answer 5

sociologists claim that ‘dysfunctional family types are to blame for the underachievement of ethnic groups

moynihan - lone parenthood is to blame, causing financial hardship

murray - african caribbean lone parenthood is to blame - lack of male role models mean that mothers struggle to adequately socialise their children

driver - ignores positive effects of black family members

Question 6

sewell

Answer 6

does not believe absent fathers are the problem for black boys

the problem is the lack of ‘tough love’ - firm, fair, respectful and non abusive discipline

boys turn to street gangs for role models which leads to peer pressure to be anti school

wanting to do well in education - seen as ‘selling out’

this can be overcome by raising the aspirations of black boys and having greater expectations

Question 7

asian families

Answer 7

sewell - bring educational benefits
- supportive families
- ‘asian work ethic’
- high value placed on education

lupton - adult authority in asian families is similar to the model that operates in schools expectation of respect towards adults

Question 8

white working class families

Answer 8

mcculloch - minority ethnic groups pupils are much more likely to go to university

lupton - this lower level of aspiration and achievement may be due to a lack of support

evans - street culture in white working class areas are to blame

Question 9

criticisms of cultural deprivation theory

Answer 9

raz - it’s a politically useful distraction

labelling theorists - underachievement is a result of teacher’s racist stereotypes and low expectations

keddie - blaming culture is blaming victims of educational failure

compensatory education attempts to impose dominant white culture