Sociology Paper 1 Flashcards
Culture capital
the knowledge about language cultures and manners
what is cultrually expected and how u exp to behaviour
language in exam = matches the dominant class
working class doesnt learn this type of language and wont understand it
Social capital
surrounds the student, family and friends
for good education, needs to be surrounded by the right person
if u are in WC fam = ppoor social capital leads to less sucess rate because you are surround by the wrong people and they wont enable you to sucess
Economic Capital
Money and property each Idv possess
pupil with high economic capital meaning those parents can buy tutors and books and revision guides and can access more culture capital because they have a greater understanding of language in the edu system
What is “Habitus” and who speaks about it?
Bourdieu and he states that it is a classes own set of ideas and values which are particular to that social class.
Durkheim: 2 Positive functions education provides for society
1) Promoting social solidarity
2) By teaching specialist skills
What is social solidarity?
1) the ties that bind people together in society
2)
2 types of social solidarity.
mechanical solidarity (pre industrial era)
organic solidarity (modern solidarity)
what is mechanical solidarity?
more traditional form of solidarity. came from people who use to live in small communities, believing in religion. However, industrialisation lead to more secularisation and more independence (urbanisation)
What is organic solidarity?
people form new bonds with people who have similar experience. also new religious movements
how does education achieve social solidarity?
1) Schools teach students about their “shared heritage” to get a sense of a shared identity. This is done through lessons such as History, Literature, and Religion. This creates a sense of common identity because most students in UK have studied shakespeare at one point
Another way education achieved social solidarity.
through communal gatherings such as assemblies, graduation, whole school gathering. This promotes values of belonging to a community and being accepted.
How is social solidarity promoted in contemporary education?
The “island story” of Britain. From magma carta (1215) to the invention of the internet. Which gets British history into students head. This was done to get a solidarity among students as Gove removed European and non British authors.
Criticisms of Functionalism:
2nd function of education by Durkheim:
Provide next generation with skills in the workforce.
how does education provides the next generation with skills?
1) education sets out knowledge thru the national curriculum, helps prepare students for future employment via literacy and numeracy.
2) It helps students become specialised BC teachers offer these subjects are A levels and then again at University.
3) Creation of universities gave students technical and scientifical skills.
evidence of teaching specialist skills thru educational policy
- Additional funding for maths students so more schools to provide for this shortage skill.
- Standardised Assessments such as A levels, GCSE, SATS to test students for specific skills such as Application, analysis and evaluation.
- students getting taught skills which allows them to compete globally.
What is Marketisation?
- Market Principles to the education system.
- Promotes more choice in type of education students can receive.
- Promoting competition between institutions for students which raises standards.
How has Conservative (19__ - 1997) achieved this?
- (1979–1997)
Conservatives achieved this by creating the education reform act in 1988. This created open enrollment, so parents have a greater choice of where to send their kids.
national curriculum as a framework for educational standards and standardised testing to compare schools to each other.
Formula Funding - Schools received specific amount per pupil, this created more competition for students.
what are the 5 things Conservative Created?
Open enrolment
National Curriculum
Standardised Testing
Formula Funding
League Tables and OFSTED
New Labour also adopted marketisation, how? and when did they come about?
1997 - 2010.
City acedemies, this was when Labour took failing schools in inner city areas and combined them into city centre acedemies with more funding from private people. This lead to more choice.
-Labour also brought in a wider range of schools such as specialist schools which are schools which focussed specially on certain areas of the curriculum like sports or science.
Faith schools, which promoted a more culturally diverse UK.
Labour introduced Tuition fees in 1998, this lead to growth of educational market and higher education.
When did Coalition Government come about and how did they achieve Marketisation?
- 2010 - 2015.
- Pupil premium, additional funding to schools with pupils with low income families, further expanded competition between schools for funding.
- Reformed curriculum to set more challenges to schools and introduced progress 8 which measures the progress a student would make in their school career.
- Further increased tuition fees for high value courses lead to further competition between universities/
What are the impacts of marketisation?
- wider choice for schools for parents and students, such as free schools academies, faith schools universities and specialist schools.
- More universitiy attendance as more people would like to attend it from overseas.
- Improvement in GCSE and A level passes.
Criticisms of Marketisation.
-Stephan Ball suggests parentocracy is a myth and the education market only serves the MC, who have the cultural and material capital.
-Open enrolment has been replaced by covert selection policies such as pricing uniform very high so WC cannot afford to go.
- Marketisation leads to ‘teaching the test’ instead of developing deeper knowledge.
Globalisation is ?
the increased interconnectedness of different areas of the world.
impact of globalisation on education
Globalization has influenced educational policies worldwide, encouraging nations to learn from successful educational practices in other countries.
Examples of International Assessments:
• PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) rank countries based on student performance in subjects like science, reading, and math.
UK Ranking for maths english science in 2015
• Ranked 15th for reading, 27th for math, and 26th for science in PISA, prompting initiatives to improve specific subjects like mathematics.
Direct Influence of Globalization on Educational Policies
• UK adopted academies and free schools based on American and Scandinavian models to enhance educational outcomes as these schools were both high in the rankings at the time
what did National Campaigns do?
• Introduced literacy and numeracy campaigns to meet global workplace demands and improve educational standards.
how did globalisation affect teaching standards?
• Extended teacher training programs and promoted higher qualifications to enhance teaching quality, mirroring practices from Scandinavian countries.
Indirect Impacts of Globalization on Educational Policy (Part 1)
Cultural and Economic Influence:
• Spread of Western culture and neoliberal economics led to policy responses like promoting British values to combat radicalization in schools.
What did Neoliberalists advocate for?
- Charter schools (publically funded, privately ran)
- Treating education like a commodity, textbooks, online courses, degrees) all bought.
- advocated for school benchmarks, testing students ability and teacher quality and overall school performance. Benchmarks allowed for schools to be compared
What did Neoliberalists advocate for?
- Charter schools (publically funded, privately ran)
- Treating education like a commodity, textbooks, online courses, degrees) all bought.
- advocated for school benchmarks, testing students ability and teacher quality and overall school performance. Benchmarks allowed for schools to be compared
Indirect Impacts of Globalization on Educational Policy (part 2)
Marketization and Privatization
:
• Growth of market-driven policies saw UK universities establishing overseas campuses and educational trusts managing schools abroad. - a lot of overseas students came to UK universities because of their high rankings.
Indirect Impacts of Globalization on Educational Policy (Part 3)
Increased Mobility and Diversity:
• Increased student mobility and diversity influenced UK tuition fee policies and funding for English language learning programs.
Indirect Impacts of Globalization on Educational Policy (Part 3)
Increased Mobility and Diversity:
• Increased student mobility and diversity influenced UK tuition fee policies and funding for English language learning programs.
Positive aspect of Globalisation
Looking to other cultures for solutions, including in education.
Global Performance Rankings:
1)International ranking schemes like ____ and _____ assess education effectiveness.
2) UK rankings in 2015: __th in Science, __st in Reading, __th in Maths.
3) Nations can improve by learning from top-ranking countries like _____________, ___________, ______________.
1) PISA, TIMSS
2) 15th, 21st, 27th
3)Singapore, Finland, and Canada.
Influence on Educational Policy:
Adoption of educational models from other countries (e.g., American charter schools, Scandinavian free schools).
National literacy and numeracy campaigns to create global workplace skills.
Initiatives to raise teacher qualifications and knowledge base.
Indirect Impacts of Globalization
Growth of Western culture and neoliberal economics.
Introduction of British values in schools to combat terrorism.
Marketization and privatization in education, overseas campuses, and educational trusts.
Increased Travel and Tuition Fees
High-ranking UK universities attract global students.
Overseas students pay higher tuition fees, influencing UK tuition fee policies.
Increased funding for ESOL and EAL programs to integrate immigrants into the workforce.
Changes in Educational Experience
- Global research cooperation influences teaching and learning (e.g., growth mindset, cognitive load theory).
- Migration leads to curriculum changes (e.g., offering Arabic and Polish).
- Multicultural approaches improve attainment (achievement) of minority ethnic groups.
Criticisms of Globalization in Education:
- Narrow focus of ranking systems on Science, Reading, and Maths; these are important but could be too simplistic as it ignores other aspects of education like art or physical education.
- External constraints may hinder the effectiveness of imported educational policies such as cultural and socio economic differences which may not work as well as in other countries.
- Differences in educational approaches (e.g., Eastern Asia vs. Finland) and their suitability, countries like japan and south korea are known for their excessive focus on education and standardised testing; whereas Finland focusses more on creativity and student well being. South Korea has the higheste suicide rate in the developed countries and is the leading death for teenagers in education.
- Reliability and validity issues with international testing - these tests have faced criticism regarding their reliability and validity. Issues such as cultural bias in test questions, differences in educational contexts and curricula across countries. This can impact the reliability and the validity of the results.
Habitus:
Tastes, attitudes, and attributes shaped by socialization (family background, social class, etc.).
Habitus and Field:
1) Habitus:
2) Field:
Result of socialisation; includes family background, likes, interests, ethnic, and national backgrounds.
Social context where one’s habitus operates; middle-class fields (arts, politics, education) can disadvantage those without a middle-class habitus.
Cultural Capital:
Sum of one’s habitus and the field they enter determines _________ ___________
Example: A working-class male has higher cultural capital in a working-class field (__________) than in a middle-class field (____).
1) cultural capital.
2) factory, arts
Education and Cultural Reproduction:
- Education constructed by middle-class values benefits students with similar habitus.
- Working-class students have less cultural capital and experience symbolic violence in education.
- Attributes of habitus (language, dress, cultural knowledge) influence educational success.
Symbolic Violence
Concept by Bourdieu.
When dominant culture’s values are forced onto others.
In schools, this happens when the culture of working-class students is ignored or devalued.
This makes it harder for these students to succeed.
Examples: Criticism of working-class language, dress, and culture, leading to them feeling left out and having fewer chances to do well in school.
Language and Education:
Language in education is often elaborated code (complex grammar, expansive vocabulary) favoring middle-class students.
Working-class students at a disadvantage due to different linguistic habits (restricted code).
Dress Codes and Education
Dress codes reflect middle-class tastes, disadvantaging working-class students.
Students can be removed from learning due to non-conformity with dress codes, judged by appearance.
Curriculum Content
Curriculum often based on middle-class preferences (literature, music, history).
Working-class cultural knowledge and histories are underrepresented, reducing their cultural capital.
Contemporary Education Policies
- Promotion of cultural capital in schools aims to facilitate social mobility.
- Marxists criticise this as forcing middle-class values on working-class students.
- Uniform policies and curriculum content often reflect middle-class norms, acting as covert selection mechanisms.
Covert Selection
- A subtle way schools favor middle-class students over working-class students.
- Schools use policies like strict uniform rules, specific suppliers, and banning certain brands ( WC cant afford)
- These policies discourage working-class students from attending or feeling comfortable.
- Leads to a school environment that supports middle-class values and habits.
- A form of hidden bias in the education system that perpetuates inequality.
Real-World Applications and Research:
- Archer:
- Reay:
-
- Nike identities and symbolic capital among working-class students.
- Middle-class habitus at home linked to academic success, but cultural capital is not the only factor.
Reay’s Study
- Cleft habitus and psychosocial impacts on working-class male students: where working-class male students experience a disjointed sense of self due to conflicting pressures from their working-class backgrounds and the middle-class values promoted by educational institutions. This dissonance can lead to psychosocial challenges, such as feelings of being unable to compete and alienation (isolated) , impacting their educational engagement and overall well-being.
Archer’s Study
Nike identities and symbolic capital among working-class students:
Louis Archer’s research explores how working-class students use “Nike identities” to gain symbolic capital within their peer groups. These identities, characterized by wearing branded clothing like Nike, help students assert their status and navigate their social environments. However, this form of capital often conflicts with the values and expectations of the educational system, potentially hindering academic success.
Criticisms of Bourdieu
Functionalists argue education is meritocratic and knowledge is necessary for success.
Critics suggest Bourdieu’s model is deterministic, though he acknowledged cultural knowledge can be learned but not as naturally as for those immersed in it at home.
Features of Privatization in Education
- Transfer of assets and resources from state control to the private sector.
- A feature of neoliberal economic policies in the UK for the past 40 years.
- Different from private or independent schools that charge fees.
Components of Privatization
- Privatization of the Education System: Schools gain independence from local education authority (LEA) control.
- Outsourcing Education Services: Use of private providers for aspects like management by academy trusts, educational consultants, and examination services.
Business Practices in Schools
- Performance Targets ?
- Marketing ?
- Efficiency Measures?
- Schools set and report progress to governors or academy trusts.
- Significant budget spent on advertising to attract students.
- Larger class sizes, limited resources, sponsorship from parents and businesses.
Features of Academization:
Schools opt out of LEA control to assume financial management:
Second wave under the coalition government from 2010:
Leaders adopt business practices for efficiency:
- This means schools decide to no longer be under the direct management of the local education authority (LEA). Instead, they take responsibility for managing their own finances, which includes budgeting, spending, and financial planning.
- This indicates that there was a renewed push or increase in the number of schools becoming academies during a specific period, particularly under the coalition government in the UK starting around 2010.
- School leaders, when schools become academies, often adopt business-like practices to improve efficiency. This can include strategic planning, performance management, and financial accountability similar to practices found in private businesses.
Role of Academy Trusts:
Manage several schools under one structure.
Appointment of executive heads overseeing multiple schools.
Develop a unified educational brand with directives from executive heads.
Educational Consultants and Exam Boards:
-Consultants
-Exam Boards
- Advise schools on maximizing potential for a fee.
- Privately run services providing certification for student achievements, e.g., Pearson.
Educational Brands and Software
- Use of specific software like Google Classroom.
- Over £50 billion spent in education annually, creating a profitable market for external providers.
Features of Privately Funded Initiatives (PFIs)
New schools built and designed by private funding rather than local councils.
Controversial practice, similar to that in healthcare.
Features of Multi-Academy Trusts:
Growth evidence of privatization ?
- 738 trusts operating at least five schools in 2018.
Equivalent to managing a large company with significant annual funding.
Features of Global Business of Privatization
Pearson: Leading UK exam board supplying over 70 countries.
Offers a range of qualifications from BTECs to international A-levels.
Criticisms of Privatization:
-Curriculum Interference
-Focus on Employment Skills
-Commercialization
-Profitability Over Progress
1) When education becomes privatized, there is a risk that large corporations or private entities could influence what is taught in schools. This influence might prioritize content that aligns with their business interests or perspectives, potentially limiting the diversity and objectivity of educational material.
2) Privatization can lead to a shift in educational priorities towards emphasizing skills that are directly applicable to the job market. While practical skills are important, this focus may come at the expense of a well-rounded education that includes critical thinking, creativity, and knowledge of the humanities and social sciences.
3) Under privatization, there is a concern that schools may increasingly resemble commercial environments. This could involve schools allowing advertising within their premises or introducing products to students as part of educational activities. Such practices can create a commercial atmosphere within educational settings, potentially influencing student behaviors and priorities.
4) Privatization may prioritize short-term financial gains over long-term educational progress and quality. This could manifest in decisions where schools or educational institutions prioritize courses or activities that generate immediate revenue or attract more students, rather than focusing on providing comprehensive and valuable educational experiences that contribute to students’ long-term development and success.
Impact on Teaching Standards
Academy trusts can hire unqualified teachers, potentially lowering standards.
Can opt out of the national curriculum but most conform to standardized assessments.
Material Factors
Inability to afford books, poor housing, nutrition, and lack of stability can affect a child’s ability to perform well in school.
Living in inadequate or unstable housing conditions, such as overcrowded or unsafe environments, can lead to stress, fatigue, and disruptions to study routines
can negatively impact a child’s cognitive development, concentration levels, and overall academic performance due to them potentially being ill more often than not.
Cultural Background
- Cultural background refers to the social environment in which a child is raised, this can heavily affect their attainment which can include knowledge, skills, and habits that are valued in society.
- Cultural norms regarding authority, communication styles, and the importance of specific subjects can affect how children participate in classroom activities and respond to educational expectations. This is because MC families are more likely to push them to do well in school compared to WC parents (douglas)
Material Factors
Impact on School Perception: Students from low-income families may appear less prepared, potentially leading to negative labeling by teachers.
Classroom Performance: Poor nutrition can affect concentration and energy levels, while unstable housing can result in frequent school changes and absence.
Cultural Background:
Definition?
Impact on Classroom Performance ?
Examples ?
Def: Cultural capital (knowledge, skills, education), norms, and values of different social groups.
Students with higher cultural capital (often middle-class) are more familiar with the dominant culture in schools, which can lead to better academic performance.
Middle-class students might be more accustomed to the formal language and behaviors expected in school settings.
Linguistic Differences
Impact in School ?
Examples ?
Language development typically occurs at home. Bernstein identified two codes: restricted code (informal, used by working-class) and elaborated code (formal, used by middle-class).
Schools primarily use the elaborated code, giving middle-class students an advantage. Working-class students may struggle with comprehension and expression in this formal language.
Working-class students may find it challenging to understand textbooks or exam questions framed in the elaborated code.
Parental Attitudes
Impact on Achievement ?
Examples ?
Middle-class parents often have higher educational expectations and are more involved in their children’s schooling, leading to better student performance.
Parental encouragement and support can boost students’ confidence and motivation, while lack of involvement may hinder academic progress.
Racism in Wider Society:
- Examples:
- Impact on Education:
- Stereotyping of ethnic minorities can result in unequal actions and limited access to advanced academic opportunities.
- Experiences of racism can lead to lower self-esteem and aspirations, affecting academic performance. Minority students may also face biased treatment and lower expectations from teachers.
Subcultural Attitudes
- Examples:
- Impact on Education:
- Peer pressure in some working-class subcultures may discourage academic effort and promote resistance to school authority.
- Subcultures that devalue education can lead to anti-school attitudes and behaviours, affecting academic achievement.
labelling and stereotyping.
- Impact:
- Examples:
- Labels (e.g., “bright,” “troublesome”) can influence teacher expectations and student self-esteem, shaping academic outcomes.
- A teacher’s initial judgment may be based on external factors such as socioeconomic status or ethnicity, leading to biased treatment.
Pro and Anti-School Subcultures
- Impact on Careers:
- Examples: Anti-school attitudes can result in absence, lower grades, and conflict with teachers, hindering long-term success.
Pro-school subcultures value academic success and conform to school norms; anti-school subcultures reject these values and norms.
- Pro-school students are more likely to pursue higher education and professional careers, while anti-school students may face limited career opportunities.
Institutional Racism:
Definition:
Impact:
Examples:
1) Systematic discrimination within educational institutions that disadvantages non-white ethnic groups.
2) Non-white students may face biased assessments, lower expectations, and unequal disciplinary actions.
3) Policies and practices that disproportionately affect minority students, such as harsher punishments or tracking into less rigorous academic programs.
Setting and Streaming
- Impact on Achievement:
- External Influences:
Grouping students by perceived ability into different sets or streams.
- Higher sets receive more challenging work and higher expectations, while lower sets may receive less stimulating instruction.
- Material factors and cultural capital can affect placement, with middle-class students more likely to be in higher sets due to better preparation and support
The feminization of education
more female teachers and teaching styles) can benefit girls but may disengage boys.
The lack of male role models in schools may contribute to lower motivation and achievement among boys.
