Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Class differences in educational attainment have persisted since 1950’s Students from middle class backgrounds pass more exams, stay on more at school and are more likely to go to university

WHY IS THIS??

Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Are the Middle Class more intelligent ?

There is general agreement that intelligence is due to: The genes inherited from parents

The environment in which children grow up

Differential Educational Achievement

IQ tests are popular but are widely criticised by sociologists IQ results are unreliable – your score can vary over time IQ tests are culturally biased I expressed in middle class vocabulary

1.Class

Differential Educational Achievement

IQ Tests They favour the MC because of the language used Motivation and previous experience can affect performance

1.Class

Bowles & Gintis (Marxists) 1976 found no link between IQ and educational and economic success

Differential Educational Achievement

Class Subcultures JWB Douglas 1964

Key factor was parental interest MC parents gave greater attention to children’s education than WC MC parents expected more from their children and gave more rewards The WC seen are “culturally deprived” 1.Class

Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Criticisms Blackstone & Mortimore 1994 WC parents do care as much as MC But WC parents feel less confident about dealing with schools

Douglas sounds a bit too much like “Blame the victim” -

Differential Educational Achievement

Bernstein 1972 – Language Codes Restricted Code of the working class not suited to academic study

Shorthand speech Grammatically simple Meanings don’t need to be made explicit “Get out of that puddle” 1.Class

Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Bernstein 1972 – Language Codes Elaborated Code – middle class

More complex speech Details and explanations are given “Get out of that puddle because the water will get in your shoes and make your socks wet and uncomfortable”

Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Bernstein believed that MC kids could use both codes, switching when the need arose The greater use of the restricted code amongst WC families led to WC kids suffering a disadvantage at school where the more formal elaborated code was more common.

Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Class Subcultures Bourdieu (A Marxist Sociologist) – Cultural capital

Cultural Capital – the education system is biased towards the MC It uses knowledge and skills of MC culture MC kids therefore have an advantage over WC kids

Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Class Subcultures Ball, Bowe & Gewirtz 1994 Cultural Capital gives MC parents more advantages Their contacts and knowledge mean they play the system They have more

‘

stamina

’

for researching schools and appeals etc They can afford to move to areas where

‘

good

’

schools are or pay for travel etc

Differential Educational Achievement 1.Class

Class Subcultures Smith & Noble 1994 

Schools in wealthy middle class areas areas are better equipped Parents with money provide more educational aids – computers, books, private tutors etc

Now Try THIS TEST