class differences and achievement Flashcards
social class
A way of measuring a person’s position in society based on their (or their parent’s) occupation.
educational achievement
How well a student does in their education. This is measured by how well they do in their formal exams, and also what level of education they achieve (e.g. GCSEs, A Levels, university degree)
material deprivation
Lacking (being without) the resources, or money needed to buy resources, that could help educational achievement.
economic capital
Having economic (monetary) resources such as cash or property.
cultural capital
Having the right norms and values needed for educational success, and valued by wider society.
cultural deprivation
where a child’s norms and values disadvantage them in the education system. A child’s culture can affect their educational success.
fatalistic attitudes
A belief that whatever will be will be, often leading to people with this attitude giving up when faced with difficulty or failure.
social capital
Having a network of people that are often well connected and might be able to help out with life.
speech codes
The way people speak, including the variety and complexity of vocabulary. This could be restricted, with limited variety and complexity of verbal language and sentence structure, or elaborated, with a wide range of vocabulary and detail and complexity in the verbal sentence structure
subculture
a groups whose attitudes and values differ from the rest of society/ mainstream culture
a group of people with their own norms and value
fatalism
a belief in fate - ‘ that whatever will be, will be’, and there is nothing you can do to change your status. This contrasts with middle-class values, which emphasises that you can change your position through your own efforts
E.g. ‘ it is what it is’ , ‘ it’s too late’ ‘my hard work is in vain’ ‘I give up’
collectivism
valuing being part of a group more than succeeding as an individual. This contrasts with the middle-class view that an individual should not be held back by group loyalties
E.g. ‘ you said you were coming to the party- not going to the library!’ ‘If you’ll revise, I’ll revise’
immediate gratification
seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices in order to get reward in the future. By contrast, middle-class values emphasise differed gratification, making sacrifices now for greater rewards later
E.g. ‘ YOLO!’ ‘Live like you’re gonna die tomorrow!’ ‘Just one more hour!’
present-time orientation
seeing the present as more important than the future and so not having long-term goals or plans. By contrast, middle-class culture has a future- time orientation that sees planning for the future as important.
E.g. ‘ I don’t know what I want to do in the future - I’m just taking each day as it comes!’ ‘Whatever happens, happens’
ideal pupil
the label given to students who fit the teacher’s idea of a perfect student
