Outline and assess the view that the way schools and teaching are organised is more important than external influences, such as the home, in explaining working-class underachievement.

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Kirstine Duncan

A2 Sociology

Outline and assess the view that the way schools and teaching are organised is more important than external influences, such as the home, in explaining working-class underachievement.

        Working class pupils’ underachievement at school may be due to the way school life is structured and the information is delivered. Teachers will use methods of communication that are unfamiliar to working class children which puts them at an immediate disadvantage as the education system is automatically biased against them.

        Bernstein found differences in the way middle class and working class people communicate. He referred to these as ‘codes,’ stating that working class people are largely limited to using the ‘restricted code’ and the middle class the ‘elaborated code.’ The restricted code is a type of shorthand speech, which is often used between family and friends when the other party in the conversation shares the same common assumptions. In restricted speech sentences are often short or unfinished, information is taken for granted, there is little detail and explanations are not given. The elaborated code is rich in detail and explanation, is very specific and understood by everyone.

        Bernstein found that middle class children had been socialised in both restricted and elaborated codes whilst many working class children had been exposed to only the restricted code. Teachers’ speech, textbooks and examination papers all appear in the elaborated code, hence, working class pupils are less likely to understand what the teachers have to say and may experience problems with essay writing and coursework.

 Working class pupils may also be criticised for the way they speak for example when answering a question in class, which would create negative feelings, which may lead to dislike of school, alienation, labelling or self-fulfilling prophecy. Bernstein believes that without the elaborated code, it is extremely difficult to demonstrate the skills needed by the education system such as; analysis, logical and rational argument, and handling higher level concepts.

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Others have supported Bernstein’s view, however, Rosen believes that Bernstien’s arguments are too vague and unsupported by hard evidence. His definition of social class is unclear and tends to assume that the elaborated code is exclusive to the middle class. Rosen also believes that we are in no position to judge that the elaborated speech code is superior, as we do not have sufficient knowledge of working class speech.

Working class pupils are more often victims of ‘Labelling Theory.’ Studies such as Lacey and Ball suggest that teachers’ expectations discriminate against working class pupils, in that they are less likely ...

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