Social Class Differences - External Factors - Material Deprivation Flashcards
What is an external factor?
An external factor is a factor outside the educational system, such as the influence of home and family background and wider society.
What is material deprivation?
Material deprivation is having a lack of basic recourses, which will result in underachievement at school.
The key factors of material deprivation are: housing, diet snd health,the cost of education and the fear of debt.
How does housing lead to underachievement in schools?
Housing can lead to underachievement directly and indirectly.
Directly:
- overcrowding makes it hard for a child to study as they have less room for educational activities, nowhere to do homework and having disturbed sleep from sharing beds/bedrooms.
- they also have a lack of space for safe play and exploration.
- they may have to move housing frequently as they live in temporary accommodation, resulting in constant changes of school and disrupted education.
Indirectly:
- impact on the child’s health and welfare, children in crowded homes run a greater risk of accidents.
- cold, damp and moldy housing can also cause ill health.
- families may suffer more psychological distress, infections and accidents.
- health problems result in more absences from school.
How does diet and health lead to underachievement in schools?
(Howard) + (Wilkinson) + (Blanden and Machin).
Howard (2001) notes that young people from poorer homes have lower intakes of energy, vitamins and minerals. Poor nutrition affects health by weakening the immune system and lowering children’s energy levels.
- this may result in more absences from school due to illness and difficulties concentrating in class.
Wilkinson (1996) says that children from poorer homes are more likely to have emotional or behavioural problems. He says that among 10 year olds, the lower social class, the higher the rate of hyperactivity, anxiety and conduct disorders.
- which will result in a negative impact on the child’s education.
Blanden and Machin (2007) found that children from low income families were more likely to engage in ‘externalising’ behaviour. Eg, fighting and temper tantrums.
- this will result in disruption to schooling.
How does the cost of education lead to underachievement in schools?
(Bull) + (Tanner) + (Smith and Noble) + (Ridge).
The cost of education means that poorer children have to do without equipment and miss out on experiences that would enhance their educational achievement.
Bull (1980) refers to this as ‘the costs of free schooling’.
Tanner (2003) found that the cost of items such as transport, uniforms, books, computers, calculators, and sports, music and art equipment, places a heavy burden on poor families.
As a result, children will make do with hand-me-downs and cheaper unfashionable equipment and this may result in being isolated, stigmatised, or bullied by peers.
- for many children, suitable clothes are essential for self-esteem and fitting in.
- also the fear of being stigmatised caused many children eligible for free school meals do not take their entitlement.
- Smith and Noble (1995) add that poverty acts as a barrier to learning in other ways. Eg, the inability to afford private schooling/tuition and having to settle with poorer quality local schools.
- the lack of funds also means that some children need to work. Ridge found that children in poverty take up jobs such as baby sitting, cleaning and paper rounds - this often results in a negative impact on their schoolwork (tiredness, lack of concentration etc).
How does the fear of debt lead to underachievement in schools?
(Callender + Jackson) + (Reay).
Using data from a nationwide questionnaire survey of nearly 2,000 potential students, Callender + Jackson (2005) found that working class students are more debt averse (against). They saw debt negatively, and as something to be avoided. They also saw more costs than benefits in going to university. They found that attitude to debt was important in deciding whether to apply for university (working class students are 5x less likely to apply than middle class students).
- working class students are also less likely to receive financial support from their families and their financial factors impact their choice of university and their chance of success.
- Reay (2005) found that working class students were more likely to apply to local universities so they could live at home and save on travel costs - this gave them less opportunity to go to the higher status universities. They were also more likely to be working part time to fund for their studies - this made it more difficult for them to gain higher-class degrees.
What does Feinstein say about cultural and material factors?
Feinstein says that educated parents make a positive contribution to a child’s development, regardless of their income level.
What does Mortimore and Whitty say about cultural and material factors?
Mortimore and Whitty (1997) argue that material inequities have the greatest effect on achievement.
What does Robinson say about cultural and material factors?
Robinson (1997) argues that tackling child poverty would be the most effective way to boost achievement.
