Class Differences in Education

Class Differences in Education

1. Internal Factors - There are factors within schools and the education system, such as interactions between pupils and teachers, and inequalities between school

2. External Fators - These are factors outside the education system, such as the influence of home and family background and wider society.

   • Cultural Deprivation
     • Centre for Longitudinal Studies (2002) - by the age of three children from disadvantaged backgrounds are already up to one year behind those from more privileged backgrounds
   • Language
     • Hubbs-Tait et al (2002) - Found that where parents use language that challenge children to evaluate their own understanding, cognitive performance improves
     • Feinstein (2008) - found that educated parents are more likely to use language in this way
     • Feinstein also found that educated parents are more likely to use praise - encourages children to develop a sense of competence
     • Bereiter and Engelmann (1966) - claim that the language used in lower class homes is deficient - communicate through gestures, single words or phrases
     • Bereiter and Engelmann also concluded that children fail to develop the necessary language skills to succeed at school.
   • Speech Codes - Bernstein (1975)
     • The Restricted Code
       • Typically used by the working class. Limited vocabulary, based on the use of short and often unfinished, grammatically simple sentences. Speech is predictable and may involve only a single word or a gesture. It is descriptive not analytic. Context-Bound - assumes the listener shares the same set of experiences.
     • The Elaborated Code
       • Typically used by the middle class. It has a wider vocabulary and is based on longer, more grammatically complex sentences. Speech is more varied and communicates abstract ideas. Context-Free - the speaker does not assume the listener shares the same set of experiences