02 Social Class & Education (External Factors)

Summary

This video explores the impact of social class on educational achievement in Britain, highlighting the disparity between middle and working-class students. Sociologists attribute middle-class success to factors like private schooling, cultural and material deprivation, and cultural capital. The video discusses how middle-class parents' involvement and values contribute to their children's educational outcomes, while working-class students often face barriers due to cultural differences and material constraints. It also touches on government initiatives to address these disparities and debates over the effectiveness of compensatory education.

Takeaways

• 🏫 In the UK, educational achievement varies significantly among different social classes, with middle-class students generally outperforming their working-class counterparts.
• 👨‍💼 Sociologists often define social class by parental occupation, distinguishing between white-collar, professional roles associated with the middle class and blue-collar, manual jobs linked to the working class.
• 💼 Middle-class parents' ability to afford private education is highlighted as a contributing factor to the achievement gap, with a significant portion of private school students attending top universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
• 📚 Cultural deprivation theories suggest that working-class families may lack the educational resources and stimulation at home that prepare children for school, potentially leading to underachievement.
• 🗣️ Bernstein's theory of language codes indicates that the 'restricted code' often used by working-class families can put their children at a disadvantage in educational settings that favor the 'elaborated code' of the middle class.
• 👩‍🏫 Hyman's argument points to a self-imposed barrier to educational success among the working class, where children may internalize the belief that education is not for them, leading to disengagement and underperformance.
• 🏛️ Cultural capital, as described by Bourdieu, is a form of wealth that includes knowledge of middle-class culture and values, which middle-class parents pass on to their children, giving them an advantage in education.
• 💵 Material deprivation, including poverty and lack of necessities, is linked to educational underachievement, as poor housing, health, and nutrition can directly affect a student's ability to learn and succeed.
• 👗 The hidden costs of education, such as uniforms, school supplies, and extracurricular activities, can be prohibitive for working-class families, potentially leading to social stigma and academic disadvantages.
• 🌍 Marketization and parental choice in education have favored middle-class parents who have the cultural and economic capital to navigate the system effectively, often leaving working-class parents and children at a disadvantage.

Q & A

What is the general trend in educational achievement between middle-class and working-class students in the UK?

The general trend is that children from middle-class backgrounds generally achieve more in education than those from working-class backgrounds.

How does parental occupation influence a student's social class, and what are the typical occupations for middle and working classes?

Parental occupation is used to determine a student's social class. Middle-class students typically have parents in non-manual professional occupations, often referred to as white-collar jobs, such as office work, law, medicine, or teaching. Working-class students have parents in more manual occupations, often in the service industry, referred to as blue-collar jobs.

What is the percentage of private schools in the UK, and how does this relate to university attendance?

7% of UK schools are private, and 90 percent of those privately educated students go on to attend university.

What is cultural deprivation theory, and how does it relate to educational achievement?

Cultural deprivation theory argues that working-class families often lack the resources like books, education toys, and activities needed to stimulate and prepare children for the educational environment provided by schools, potentially leading to underachievement.

How do Bernstein and Young's theories on language use in the home environment affect working-class students' educational performance?

Bernstein and Young claimed that the language used by working-class families was deficient, leading to struggles in explaining, describing, and comparing in lessons. This deficiency in language skills can make it difficult for working-class students to express their thoughts and ideas effectively in an educational setting.

What is the concept of 'cultural capital' as introduced by Pierre Bourdieu, and how does it influence educational achievement?

Cultural capital refers to the cultural and material factors that contribute to educational achievement. Middle-class culture is a form of capital that gives an advantage to those who possess it, as it includes norms, values, and an understanding of what the education system requires for success, which is often gained through primary socialization.

What are the four key features of the self-imposed barrier that working-class children may create towards educational success?

The four key features are fatalism, collectivism, immediate gratification, and present time orientation. These features can lead to a negative attitude towards education, a preference for group identity over individual achievement, a focus on short-term pleasure over long-term goals, and a lack of future planning.

How does material deprivation affect educational achievement, and what are some examples of its impact?

Material deprivation, which refers to poverty and lack of material necessities, can affect educational achievement by causing health issues, poor housing conditions, and lack of resources for studying. Examples include poor diet leading to health problems, inadequate living conditions affecting study spaces and sleep, and the hidden costs of education like uniforms and school supplies.

What is the role of parental choice in education, and how does marketization benefit different social classes?

Parental choice in education allows parents to decide which school their children attend. Marketization in education has led to three types of choosers: privileged skilled choosers (middle class), disconnected local choosers (working class), and semi-skilled choosers (ambitious working class). This system generally benefits middle-class parents more, as they have more cultural and economic capital to make informed choices.

How do hidden costs of education, such as uniforms and educational trips, impact students from working-class backgrounds?

Hidden costs of education like uniforms, educational equipment, and trips can be prohibitive for working-class families, potentially leading to lower self-esteem, bullying, or missing out on important learning opportunities, which can contribute to underachievement.