Class differences in education

(External) What are the two classes (most used)

Middle and working

What is cultural deprivation theory in the context of education

Many working-class families fail to socialise their children adequately, so they grow up ‘culturally deprived’

What is ‘cultural equiptment’

Aspirations, motivation to succeed, self-discipline and language skills

Cultural deprivation theorists argue middle class parents give their children more cultural equiptment

Criticism and strength of cultural deprivation theory

• its a form of victim blaming - children failing due to their parents and their deficiencies

• Influence on government policies aimed at tackling underachievement

What do cultural deprivation theories believe about working-class subculture

(A subculture is a group whose attitude and values differ from those of the mainstream culture)

Large sections of the working class have different goals, belief attitudes and values from the rest of society and this is why their children fail at school

(Barry Sugarman) what are the four key features (attitudes and beliefs) working class subcultures have that act as a barrier to educational achievement

• fatalism - the idea that ‘whatever will be will be’

• Collectivism - valuing being a part of a group more than succeeding as an individual

• Immediate gratification - seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices e.g. revising instead of playing

• Present-time orientation - seeing the present as more important than the future

Why is language important

The way parents communicate with their children affects their cognitive development and ability to benefit from schooling

Criticism language argument

The problem is the schools attitude towards the child’s language.

Teachers have a ‘speech hierarchy’: they label middle class speech highest, followed by working class speech and then black speech

(Bernstein) what are the two types of speech code

1. The restricted code - typically used by working class students, limited vocabulary and often unfinished, grammatically simple sentences

2. The elaborated code - typically used by middle class students, wider vocabulary and longer more complex grammar

Why does speech give middle class children an advantage

Because this is the language most used by teachers, textbooks and exams. It’s taken as the ‘correct’ way to speak and is a more effective tool for analysing and reasoning, and for expressing thoughts clearly and effectively.

Early socialisation into the elaborated code means that middle-class students are already fluent in the code when they start at school

Criticism of the types of speech effecting students (cultural deprivation theorists)

It exaggerates the difference between classes

How does parents education effect children’s education

If parents are successful they are more likely to have a positive attitude towards education, making them more ambitious for their children and more encouragement

What three ways are middle class parents able to give their child a head start

1. Parenting style - parents with higher qualifications emphasise consistent discipline and higher expectations of their children

2. Parents educational behaviours - parents with higher qualifications are more aware of what is needed to assist their child’s educational progress, so they engage in behaviours such as reading, teaching them numbers, songs poems, helping with hw etc

3. Use of income - parents with higher qualifications tend to have higher incomes, so they can afford educational toys, private school, tutors etc

Criticisms of cultural deprivation theorists

• Working class are different, how deprived. They fail because the schools system is designed for middle classes

• It contributed to labelling, which is used by teachers, so self-fulfilling prophecy

• Working class parents do care about their child’s education because they know it will lead to a good job

What is the material deprivation theory

Refers to poverty and a lack of material necessities such as adequate housing and income

How does housing effect education

• overcrowding makes it difficult for children to study or sleep

• Cold or damp housing can cause ill health

How does diet and health effect education

Lower intake of vitamins, energy and minerals. Weaker immune system and lower energy can create more absences and little concentration in class

What are Bordieus three types of capital

1. Cultural capital e.g. middle class attitudes, values, language, tastes and abilities which allows them the ability to grasp analyse and express abstract ideas

2. Educational capital

3. Economic capital

(Now internal)