Social Class & Achievement [EXTERNAL FACTORS] Flashcards
What is material deprivation?
It refers to poverty and a lack of material necessities.
What are the 4 material factors?
Poor living conditions
Poor diet and health
Hidden costs of edducation
Fear of debt
How does poor housing impact achievement?
Overcrowded conditions
Temporary accomodation
This could impact achievement because they may live further away from school so it takes longer to travel and it also costs money.
They may not have any quiet space to work.
How does poor diet and health impact achievement?
Lower intakes of energy and vitamins.
Poor immune system
This could impact achievement because w/c may focus less and get distracted more easily causing hyperactivity.
M/c will have a better diet and focus more meaning they will get better grades.
How does hidden costs of education impact achievement?
Parents are expected to pay for things like school uniform, stationery and school activities.
M/c are able to afford to buy textbooks and uniforms whereas, w/c are more likely to have hand me downs.
W/c are also less likely to have WI-FI meaning less time on revision and homework.
How does fear of debt impact achievement?
Callender and Jackson: W/C pupils are more likely to be debt averse and were less likely to apply to university.
This may impact their education because they will not get a higher education, whereas, M/C parents will have the money to send their child to university.
What is the evaluation of material deprivation? (3)
Not all W/C students fail. Some use it as motivation because because they don’t want to be stuck int he same cycle.
The education system has meritocracy so everyone is judged equally.
Financial support is given to those who need it.
What is cultural deprivation?
It means having a lack of cultural attributes necessary for educational success like inadequate socialisation and inappropriate attitudes and values.
What are the four cultural factors?
Language
Parental interest
Parents education
Working class subculture
Who introduces Language and what do they have to say about it?
Bernstein.
Restricted code: W/C, limited vocab, simple sentences.
Elaborated code: M/C, elaborate vocab, complex sentences.
Elaborated code is used in textbooks and in education meaning that M/C will understand more and W/C may interpret questions differently.
Who introduces parental interest and what do they have to say about it?
Douglas.
W/C do not place much interest on education and will not attend parents evenings meaning that W/C children will place less valuse on their education because their parents don’t care.
M/C parents will put more ‘emotional labour’ into their children and helicopter parenting will help their child understand knowledge and gain a wider understanding.
Who introduces parents education and what do they have to say about it?
Feinstein.
M/C parents tend to be more educated and they have a different style of parenting. They are also more likely to buy educational toys and textbooks. They also value activities more, allowing their child to succeeed more.
Who introduces the working class subculture and what values are there?
Sugarman.
Fatalism - What will be, will be.
Collectivism - Value being part of a group instead suceeding individually.
Immediate gratification - seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices.
Present time orientation - seeing the present as more important than long term goals.
M/C have values of meritocracy, deffered gratification and long term goals.
What are criticisms of cultural deprivation? (3)
Blackstone and Mortimore: W/C parents attent fewer parents evening because they may work longer hours and are put off the M/C atmosphere.
Troyna and Williams: The problem is not the child’s language but the school’s attitude towards it.
Keddie: W/C children are culturally different, not culturally deprived. The education is dominated with M/C values.
What Bourdieu argue?
M/C people have capital which explains why they are more successful. There are 3 and they include:
Cultural capital: Knowledge, attitudes, values and language. (what you know)
Economic capital: ownership of wealth (what you have)
Social capital: posession of valuable social contacts (who you know)
