external factors of ethnic differences in achievement

Question 1

C.D:Language:external factor for ethnic differences

Answer 1

CD theorists say this is a reason for ethnic minority pupil’s underachievement.
* Children from poor black families lack intellectual stimulation and enriching experiences, making them ill-prepared for school and likely to fail.

• Bereiter & Engelmann- language spoken but black families is ungrammatical/disjointed and doesn’t express abstract ideas- so it’s inadequate for educational success.
• Concerns about EAL students falling behind are dismissed, as Gillborn & Mirza (2000) say Indian pupils excel despite English being their second language.

creiticisms–people who spoke english slightly better than those who dont Demie and Mclean found that lagnuage barriers less important than school factors such as institutional racism

Question 2

C.D: attitudes and values (external factor)

Answer 2

Differences in attitudes and values towards education may due to different socialsation

CDT argue most children socialsied into mainstream culture which includes compettiitveness and a desire to achieve thus equipping them for success in education

However CDT claims the subculture into which some black children are socialised is fatalistic and focused on immediate gratification resulting in less motivation to succeed.

Eval:Connor fouind that minority ethnic parents place higher value on education than white parents

Question 3

C.D:family structure and parental support

Answer 3

lack of male role model for african encourages gang culture.
CDT claims the high rate of lone parents lead to underachievement
A02:Moyniham study: Black homes headed by mother meant lack of scialsiation due to struggle financially
links to sewell arguing lack of fatherly nurturing leads to boys underachieving(need love and loyalty)
AO3:Gilborn argues it is not instituional racism that produces failure of many black boys(not peer pressure of absente fathers)

However Asian families argued by chinese and indian pupils beenfit from supportive families -“asian work ethic”

Question 4

Driver criticises CDT forn

Answer 4

ignoring positive effects of this family structure it provides girls with positive role models of strong independent women

Question 5

tips for intepreting the question when answering questions on ethncity and achievement

Answer 5

dont just refer to non-white pupils. referring to white wc underaachievement provides balance in your answer.

Question 6

white working class pupils

Answer 6

white w/c pupils also underachieve.This may be because they have lower aspirations than many other thnicity groups and this results in white w/c culture including a lack of parental support.
evidence to support this is evans argues that street culture in white w/c areas can be brutal and is brought in schoool. Strong pressure to reject education

Question 7

a03 evaluation on Cultural deprivation theory on Ethnic differences (CE)

Answer 7

Critics argue CDT shifts the blame away from structural factors such as racism adn inequality
for instance compensatory education-education policty to counter effects of Cultural Deprivation
Aiming high focused on increasing the participation of minority ethnic groups.Archer crtiicsies scheme for focusing on fixing indivduals supposedly low aspirations rather than on institutional racism

Question 8

Criticms of cultural deprivation

Answer 8

victim blaming:keddie argues it is a victim blaming explanation. minority ethnic groups culturally different not culturall deprived and tehy underachieve because chools are ethnocentric.

labelling theorists:cause lies not in low aspirations but in teachers racist stereotypes

Question 9

material deprivation

Answer 9

Material deprivation- lack of physical
necessities, like poor housing and low income.
WC people & ethnic minorities are more
likely to be materially deprived.

Question 10

Why are ethnic minorities more at risk of
material deprivation?

Answer 10

• Many live in economically depressed areas-
  high unemployment and low wages.
• Cultural factors- like purdah preventing
  Muslim women from working.
• EAL minority groups- lack of language skills
  and foreign qualifications not recognised by
  employers.
• Asylum seekers not always allowed to work.
• Racial discrimination- in labour and housing
  market.

Question 11

A02 Racism in wider society :material deprivation

Answer 11

Study showed racism within employment.
* They sent 2 identical job applications to 1,000 vacancies- the only difference
being 1 ‘white’ applicant and 2 ‘ethnic minority’ applicants.
* This found that only 1 in 16 applications got an interview, compared to 1 in 9
white ones.
This explains why ethnic minorities are more likely to be unemployed, and
therefore why their child’s education is impacted.

Question 12

racism in wider society;material deprivation

Answer 12

While material deprivation among minortiy ethnic gorups clearly affects pupils achievementit may itself bet he product of racism n wider society
mwmbers of minority ethnic groups face direct and indirect discrimination at work and in the hosuing market

as a result they are likely to have low pay or be unemployed and this affects their chilldrens educational opportunities