Cultural Deprivation (External) Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is an external factor in education?
Factors outside of the education system that influence educational achievement
How does cultural deprivation happen?
- Cultural deprivation theorists argue many WC families fail to socialise their children adequately.
- These children grow up ‘culturally deprived’ so they lack the cultural equipment needed to do well in school and so underachieve
What are the 3 main aspects of cultural deprivation?
- Language
- Parents’ education
- WC subculture
Describe language as a part of education
Language is essential in the education process and the way parents communicate with their children affect their cognitive development and their ability to benefit from schooling
Describe a study where advanced language affects children
- Hubbs-Tait et al found parents who used language that made children evaluate their own understanding (e.g. ‘what do you think?’), cognitive performance improves
- Feinstein found educated parents are more likely to use this language and use to praise to encourage a development of a sense of their own competence
Describe a study where simple language affects children
Less educated parents used language that only made children make a simple description (e.g. “what’s that animal called?”), resulting in lower performance
How do cultural deprivation theorists link language to social class?
- Bereiter and Engelmann argue language used in WC homes is deficient. This is as parents don’t communicate effectively and rely on gestures, single words or disjointed phrases
- Children then fail to develop necessary language skills. They grow up incapable of abstract thinking and so can’t take advantages of the opportunities schools offers
What are speech codes?
- Bernstein identifies between WC and MC language that influence achievement
- He distinguishes between the restricted code and elaborated code
What is the restricted code?
- Typically used by the WC
- Has limited vocabulary and based on short, unfinished, grammatically simple sentences
- It’s context-bound, as the speaker assumes the listener shares the same set of experiences
What is the elaborated code?
- Typically used by the MC
- Has wider vocabulary and based on longer, grammatically complex sentences
- It’s context-free, the speaker doesn’t assume the listener shares the same experiences, uses language to spell out meanings
Why is the elaborated code beneficial in school?
- It’s the language used by teachers, books and exams.
- It’s taken as the ‘correct’ way to speak, and in Bernstein’s view it’s a more effective tool for analysing and reasoning (essential skills in school)
How does the elaborate code put MC kids at an advantage?
- Early socialisation into the elaborated code means MC children are fluent when they start school. They feel ‘at home’ in school and are more likely to succeed
- WC children lack the code used in school and are likely to feel excluded and be less successful
How does Bernstein differ from other cultural deprivation theorists?
- Bernstein is a cultural deprivation theorist as he describes WC speech as inadequate
- However, he recognises that the school (not just at home) influences children’s achievement
- He argues WC pupils fail not because they’re culturally deprived, but because schools don’t teach them how to use the elaborated code
Give a study that suggests WC parents place less value on education
- Douglas found that WC parents placed less value on education. So, they are less ambitious for their children, gave them less encouragement and took less interest in their education
- They visited schools less and were less likely to discuss their children’s progress with teachers. Their children then had lower levels of motivation and achievement
What are the factors of parental education that impact socialisation?
- Parenting style
- Parents’ educational behaviours
- Use of income
- Class, income and parental education
Describe parenting style as a factor of parental education
- Educated parents emphasise consistent discipline and high expectations by encouraging active learning (useful in school)
- Less educated parents use inconsistent disciplines that emphasise ‘doing what you are told’, preventing independence and self-control
Describe parent’s education behaviour as a factor of parental education
Educated parents know what’s needed for success and are more likely to engage in educational activities that benefit their children, e.g. reading to them and visiting museums and libraries
Describe use of income as a factor of parental education
- Better educated parents tend to have higher incomes due to their better jobs. They will spend their income in a way that benefits their children
- Bernstein found MC mothers are more likely to buy educational toys and games that encourage reasoning skills. This develops their child’s intellect
Describe class, income and parental education and how they impact achievement
- Feinstein notes parental education influences children’s achievement, regardless of class or income
- This explains why not all children of WC parents do equally bad and why not all MC kids are equally successful
What is a working-class subculture?
- A subculture is a group whose attitudes and values differ from the mainstream culture
- Cultural deprivation theorists argue the WC have different goals, beliefs, attitudes and values from the rest of society and this is why children fail at school
What are the 4 features of a working-class subculture?
- Sugarman argues the WC subculture has features that act as a barrier to achievement:
- Fatalism
- Collectivism
- Immediate gratification
- Present-time orientation
Describe fatalism as a feature of a working-class subculture
- The idea that you can’t change your status or position in society
- Contrasts MC values of being able to change your position through effort (meritocracy)
Describe collectivism as a feature of a working-class subculture
- The value that being a part of a group is more than succeeding as an individual
- MC values emphasise personal success (individualism)
Describe immediate gratification as a feature of a working-class subculture
- Seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices in order to get rewards in the future
- MC values emphasises deferred gratification.
