Social Class and Achievement - External Factors

Question 1

Material Factors

Answer 1

• W/C suffer from material deprivation.

EXAMPLES:

• Lack of resources
• Poor diet
• Overcrowding
• Have to wear a second hand uniform
• Cannot afford travel costs
• Children May have to take in jobs and then end up being too tired to do homework/revise.
• W/C are scared to apply for uni due to fear of debt.
• M/C do better because they have economic capital so they can afford the things needed for educational success.

EXAMPLES:

• Large house so children have their own bedrooms
• Can afford computers/internet
• Can move to the catchment area of an outstanding school

Question 2

Cultural Factors

Answer 2

• W/C suffer from cultural deprivation.
• Many parents fail to socialise their children adequately.
• Children grow up culturally deprived, lacking the right attitudes and values to do well at school, so they underachieve.

Question 3

3 Aspects of Cultural Deprivation

- Parents’ attitudes

Answer 3

• W/C parents may be unwilling or unable to support their child in creating a positive attitude towards education.
• Not likely to help with homework or encourage a work ethic (they failed at school so don’t see the point).
• Place less value on education.
• Less ambitious for for their children so don’t encourage them.
• Don’t tend to visit the school.
• W/C become demotivated and disinterested in school.

Question 4

3 Aspects of Cultural Deprivation

- Subculture

Answer 4

• w/c and m/c have different cultures and goals.

Sugarman claims that the working class has a particular that consists of 4 characteristics which prevent children from doing as well in school:

1. Fatalism
2. Collectivism
3. Immediate Gratification
4. Present-time orientation

Middle class students do better because their culture is characterised by:

1. Individual effort
2. Deferred gratification
3. Future-time orientation

Question 5

3 Aspects of Cultural Deprivation

- Language Use

Answer 5

W/C use the restricted code.
M/C use the elaborate code.

Schools teach using the elaborate code meaning w/c students struggle to read textbooks and exam questions. Can’t achieve high grades because their writing is limited.

Question 6

Cultural Capital

Answer 6

• M/C students do better because they posses cultural capital. This is a set of tastes, values, interests and knowledge which result in material rewards and success.
• Gives m/c students an advantage over w/c students who lack cultural capital.

EXAMPLES:

• Parents can help children
• Attend all school events like parents evening
• Take children to museums and galleries to broaden knowledge and understanding, giving them an advantage in the classroom
• Value deferred gratification

Question 7

Other Types of Capital

Answer 7

1. Economic Capital - money
2. Social Capital - contacts
3. Educational Capital - knowledge of the system