Class differences in education

Class differences in education

1. External factors

   • Cultural deprivation
     • WC lack cultural attitudes and skills for success
     • Intellectual development
       • Lack learning resources
         • Toy banks, Sure Start
       • Douglas - WC score lower on ability tests than MC
     • Language
       • WC - restricted code
         • Limited vocabulary, poor gramar
           • English compulsory
       • MC - elaborate code
         • Eloquent - used in text books and by teachers
     • Attitudes and values
       • Douglas - WC parents less enthusiastic about edu
       • Hyman - attitudes of the WC are a 'self-imposed barrier' to edu success
       • Sugarman
         • Fatalism: WC believe in fate
         • Collectivism: being part of a group more important
         • Immediate gratification: seek fun now
         • Present-time orientation: now is most important
     • Keddie argues culturally different not deprived
       • Blames school system for MC benefit only

2. Compensatory education

   • Policy designed to target cultural deprivation
   • Sure Start, parenting classes

3. Material deprivation

   • 33% of FSM got 5A* - C
   • Housing
     • Overcrowding and disruption
     • Poor housing = illness
   • Diet and health
     • Poor nurition
     • WC more likely to have behavioural/emotional disorders
   • Finances
     • Lack equipment
     • More likely to work instead of uni

4. Cultural capital

   • Bourdieu: three types of capital
   • Cultural capital
     • Knowledge, attitudes, values, tastes and abilities of MC
     • Socialisation - more analytical and intellectual
   • Educational and economic capital
     • 90% of failing schools are in deprived areas
     • Selection by mortgage - MC can afford houses around better schools

5. Gerwitz: marketisation and parental choice

   • Idenitifies three types of parents
   • Privileged-skilled choosers
     • MC parents used their economic and cultural capital to get children into good schools
     • Understood school system and admin
       • Can afford tutors and extra tests
     • Could afford to move close to school/send children to schools further away
   • Disconnected-local choosers
     • Lack understanding and cultural and economic capital
     • Valued safety and facilities over league tables
   • Semi-skilled choosers
     • WC but ambitious for children
     • Lack cultural capital and had to rely on opinions of others