Class

Class

1. External Factors

   • Material Deprivation
     • Housing
       • Working-class homes are often overcrowded and prone to dampness
     • Diet and Health
       • Those from poorer homes often have lower intake of vitamins, energy and minerals
     • Finances
       • Lack of financial support means they cannot afford equipment needed to achieve in the education system
   • Cultural Deprivation
     • Working-class homes lack resources, e.g. books and educational toys, to help children develop intellectually
     • Working-class parents often spend less time on homework with their children
     • Evidence suggests the restricted code is spoken in working-class homes
       • Restricted code: limited vocab and based on the use of short, simple sentence
     • Evidence suggests working-class children seek immediate gratification rather than delayed gratification
       • Immediate gratification: seeking pleasure now rather than making sacrifices to get rewards in the future
     • Criticism: Blame the working-class - victim blaming
   • Cultural Capital
     • Middle-class children possess cultural capital through knowledge, attitudes and values passed on by parents
     • The elaborated code is spoken in middle-class homes which aids success in the education system
       • Elaborated code: wider vocab and based on longer, more complex sentences
     • Middle-class children seek deferred gratification which aids success in the education system
       • Deferred gratification: making sacrifices now to get rewards later
     • Criticism: unfair to say schools are biased towards working-class as many schools put extra resources to help
     • Criticism: Middle-class may not be achieving as well as is made out
     • Criticism: Many schools provide educational trips for all pupils

2. Internal Factors

   • Becker
     • Studied 60 Chicago High School teachers
       • Found they judged pupils based on how closely they fitted the image of the 'ideal pupil'
     • Criticism: Creates negative self-esteem for working-class children
   • Ball
     • Studied Beachside Comprehensive
       • Found even after they abolished banding, teachers continued to label pupils
     • Criticism: They may accept a self-fulfilling prophecy and go on to fail
   • Ray Rist
     • Studied an American kindergarten
       • Found teachers used information and children's home background to place them in separate groups
       • Middle-class were Tigers, whereas Cardinals and Clowns tended to be working-class