external class differences in achievement

Question 1

Bernstein - speech codes

Answer 1

differences in speech codes put working-class children at a disadvantage because the elaborated code is used by teachers, textbooks and exams. early socialisation into elaborated code means that middle class pupils are already at an advantage

Question 2

Douglas - parents education

Answer 2

working-class parents place less value on education; they are less ambitious for their children and give them less encouragement to participate in educational activities, such as homework. as a result of this, many working-class parents do not attend parents evenings

Question 3

Sugarmann - working class subcultures

Answer 3

identifies 4 key acts that can act as a barrier to educational achievement for working class pupils:
- fatalism: there’s nothing you can do to change your status
- collectivism: valuing being part of a group more than being and individual
- immediate gratification: seeking pleasure now, rather than making sacrifices in order to get rewards in the future
- present time orientation - seeking the present as more important than the future, therefore having no long-term goals

Question 4

housing

Answer 4

poor housing can affect a pupils achievement directly and indirectly:
- overcrowding means there is no room for educational activities, such as homework and reading. it also means disturbed sleep from sharing bedrooms
- families living in temporary accommodation may find themselves having to move frequently, leading to disturbed education
- overcrowded homes mean greater risk of accidents and a higher risk of getting ill. this may lead to absence from school

Question 5

Howard - diet and health

Answer 5

young people from poorer homes have lower intakes of energy, vitamins and minerals. poor nutrition affects health, for example, by weakening the child’s immune system - this may result in more absences from school

Question 6

Bourdieu - cultural capital

Answer 6

middle-class children with cultural capital are better equipped to meet the demands on the school curriculum. parents can convert cultural capital into economic capital. for example, they can send there children to private schools