Explain how the hidden curriculum and processes within schools help to produce inequalities between children of different social classes.
Through many different researches, it has been shown that working class students are underachieving compared to that of their middle class peers. Middle class pupils are obtaining better grades, and more of them are staying on in education past the compulsory age. The difference that is noticeable is that they are from different social class backgrounds, and therefore they are socialised differently. In order to find out more about this, we need to discuss the reasons for differences between the ways in which the different social classes are taught in schools.
The hidden curriculum could be defined as the values that are taught through the attitudes and ideas of the teachers and other students. Often, teachers have a subconscious concept about children from different social backgrounds. This can affect the ways in which the pupils are taught, and their thoughts and motivations about schooling.
Douglas carried out research in 1962, and he came to a conclusion that parental interest was one main factor in the educational attainment of children. He said that if parents were interested in their child's schooling, the child would be encouraged to achieve higher. It was shown; by a process of counting the number of times the parents visit the school to discuss their child's progress, that middle class parents had greater interest in their children's education than working class parents. Middle class parents encouraged their children to work hard and stay on at Post-16. They taught their children things from a very young age, and this included reading and speaking, as well as childhood games and table manners. However, it is suggested that there are reasons why working class parents seem less interested in their children's education. It could be that they are interested, but have more important work commitments; therefore they don't have time to visit the school. Also, the parents may be put off from visiting the school due to the ways in which the teachers interact with them. Teachers are more likely to have a better attitude to parents of middle class than working class, and this may be putting the parents off visiting the school and paying attention to their child's education.
Through many different researches, it has been shown that working class students are underachieving compared to that of their middle class peers. Middle class pupils are obtaining better grades, and more of them are staying on in education past the compulsory age. The difference that is noticeable is that they are from different social class backgrounds, and therefore they are socialised differently. In order to find out more about this, we need to discuss the reasons for differences between the ways in which the different social classes are taught in schools.
The hidden curriculum could be defined as the values that are taught through the attitudes and ideas of the teachers and other students. Often, teachers have a subconscious concept about children from different social backgrounds. This can affect the ways in which the pupils are taught, and their thoughts and motivations about schooling.
Douglas carried out research in 1962, and he came to a conclusion that parental interest was one main factor in the educational attainment of children. He said that if parents were interested in their child's schooling, the child would be encouraged to achieve higher. It was shown; by a process of counting the number of times the parents visit the school to discuss their child's progress, that middle class parents had greater interest in their children's education than working class parents. Middle class parents encouraged their children to work hard and stay on at Post-16. They taught their children things from a very young age, and this included reading and speaking, as well as childhood games and table manners. However, it is suggested that there are reasons why working class parents seem less interested in their children's education. It could be that they are interested, but have more important work commitments; therefore they don't have time to visit the school. Also, the parents may be put off from visiting the school due to the ways in which the teachers interact with them. Teachers are more likely to have a better attitude to parents of middle class than working class, and this may be putting the parents off visiting the school and paying attention to their child's education.
