Ethnic differences in achievement (external)

Question 1

What evidence is there of ethnic differences in achievement?

Answer 1

National pupil database: Chinese pupils typically perform the best with black Caribbean and Gypsy/Roma performing the worst

Question 2

What is cultural deprivation and how might it affect ethnic differences in achievement?

Answer 2

Result of inadequate socialisation in home e.g.
- intellectual and linguistic skills (Better and Engleman see the language spoken by low-income black american families as inadequate for educational success) and concern those who do not have English as their first language may be held back (official stats show this is not a major factor)
- attitudes and values (some black children are socialised into fatalistic values and do not value education)
- family structure and parental support (Moynihan - black families often headed by lone mothers - inadequate socialisation & Pryce - Asian pupils are more resistant to racism/have greater sense of self-worth - black Caribbeans =opposite - he argues this roots from slavery)

Question 3

What does Sewell suggest as to why black Caribbean boys struggle in school?

Answer 3

Lack of fatherly nurturing/tough love results in emotional and behavioural difficulties
Many boys are subject to powerful anti-school subcultures - most of the black boys who were academically successful said the greatest barrier to success was pressure form other boys (those successful and speaking in standard English were accused of ‘selling out’ to the white establishment

Question 4

What does critical race theorist Gillborn suggest as the true reason black students do not perform as highly?

Answer 4

Institutional racism

Question 5

What is one reason Asian pupils typically perform the best?

Answer 5

Chinese pupils benefit from supportive families that have an Asian work ethic and place high value on education
Lupton - adult authority in Asian families is similar to the model that operates in school (parents supported schools policies)

Question 6

Why do ethnic minorities often out perform the white working class?

Answer 6

See the education system as ‘a way up in society’ rather than having a hostile attitude towards it like many WC

Question 7

What is the main policy that has been adopted to tackle cultural deprivation?

Answer 7

Compensatory education

Question 8

What are the main criticisms of cultural deprivation theory?

Answer 8

Keddie - cannot be deprived of own culture - culturally different NOT deprived - they underachieve because the school is ethnocentric

Question 9

Why are critics of cultural deprivation opposed to compensatory education?

Answer 9

See it as an attempt to impose the dominant white culture on children who already have a coherent culture of their own
Propose 2 alternatives:
1) multicultural education
2) anti-racist education