Sociology: Education: Material deprivation (Class)

What is material deprivation?

The inability to afford ‘basic’ necessities such as food, heating etc. This impacts academic success.

How does diet and health of a child impact education?

Lack of healthy/sufficient food can impact concentration and lead to health issues which cause a child to miss time off school.

How do functionalists react to material deprivation?

Argue it disrupts the ability of the education system to correctly perform its job.

How would a Marxist react to material deprivation?

Would claim it is a product of capitalism and reproduces the class inequalities that maintain capitalism.

How would an Interactionist react to material deprivation?

Focus more on the interactions between teachers and students and how health issues and divisions impact that.

Outline financial support’s impact on a child’s education

Those with higher support will be encouraged to do more academically, be less stressed over finances and can pursue highly paid careers in the future due to lack of debt fear.

Give examples of financial support in education.

• Grants

• Scholarships

• Family assistance

How does housing situation impact education?

Children can live in overcrowded or unsuitable homes, leading to a lack of time or quiet space to study, and if the house is damp this can lead to respiratory issues.

Outline Flaherty’s (2004) findings

Found money problems are a significant react as to why students don’t attend school.

What proportion of failing schools are located in deprived areas?

90%

Outline Howard’s (2001) findings

Young people from poor homes have a lower intake of nutrition and this weakens their immune systems, leading to more time off school.

Outline Wilkinson’s (1996) findings

The lower the social class the higher the rate of hyperactivity, conduct and anxiety disorders, likely to negatively impact education.

Outline Blanden and Machin’s (2007) findings

Low income children more likely to ‘externalise’ anger (fighting, tantrums etc)

Outline Bull’s (1980) findings

Found children in low income areas didn’t have the same opportunities and equipment wealthier children had, labelled this ‘the cost of free schooling’

Outline Tanner et al’s (2003) study

Cost of items such as uniform, books, computers and transport placed a heavy burden on impoverished families.

What did Flaherty suggest about FSM?

20% of students did not take up FSM due to stigma.

Outline Callender and Jackson’s (2005) findings

Suggested working class students are more debt averse than wealthier students and were 5 times less likely to apply to university.

Outline Ucas’ (2012) findings

When fees rose to £9000 applicants dropped by 8.1%