Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the view that working-class underachievement in education is the result of home circumstances and family background

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AS Sociology Essay

Douglas is one sociologist in particular who would tend to agree with the generalisation that working-class underachievement in education is the result of home circumstances and family background. Douglas feels that this educational underachievement is maintained due to what he classifies as ‘poor’ parental attitudes and encouragement towards the education system and its functions. He use’s evidence of poor parental interest with regards to lack of attendance at parent teacher meetings and other functions held by the school which would be in the best interests of the children if their parents attended.  He highlights the fact that parents of working-class students have poor rates of attendance at these meetings and thus it comes across as if they are less interested in their child’s educational experiences and opportunities compared to a middle-class child’s parents who do attend. However some would say that Douglas’ view is rather controversial in that he fails to recognise that many of these parents could be at work when these meetings are scheduled or perhaps they are looking after children and are unable to find or afford someone to look after them. So can we really say that working class underachievement is a result of home circumstances and family background as sociologists such as Douglas suggest?

   Newson and Newson would also agree with the statement that working-class underachievement in education is the result of home circumstances and family background. Through their study of child-rearing practices, they found that parental skills found within working-class families were poor in comparison with those that were evident within middle-class families were child-centeredness is apparent. They found that middle-class parents got more involved in learning through play, monitoring educational progress and encouragement through visits to the library, museums and galleries etc. They believe that this places middle-class kids at an advantage when it comes around the time for them to start school. Again it is possible to say that it may well perhaps be down to the fact that money may be restricting them from attending museums etc not the fact that they simply don’t care as much as middle-class parents as some sociologists appear to highlight.

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   Murray and Marsland would also agree with this broad statement. They also like Douglas, Newson and Newson pinpoint parents and the quality of home life to blame for working-class underachievement within the education system. Murray and Marsland argue that the so called ‘underclass’ is made up of parents who are afraid of work, are more of ten than not welfare dependant and according to them they are ‘inadequate’ in terms of transmitting positive values and norms to their children during the process of primary socialisation regarding education and the opportunities it may offer them in the future. Murray and Marsland can ...

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