Discussion Responses
DISCUSSION 1 (PAGE 1) ANSWER THE QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY
1) Using TWO theories addressed in the lecture and readings (READINGS ARE UPLOADED) in Module 4, explain how social class affects children’s learning outcomes. In answering this questions, be sure to cite the names of the theorists, their research/work, and findings.
2) Explain how your own schooling experiences would have been different if you attended a different set of schools–either those with exceptional resources or those with poor resources? How would it have affected your schooling experiences differently? Explain.
3)OTHER STUDENT’S WORK (WRITE 3-5 SENTENCES BRIEF RESPONDED TO THESE 2 STUDENTS WORK) RESPOND INDIVIDUALLY. YOU CAN ALSO HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW TO WRITE THE DISCUSSION FROM THE 2 DISCUSSION BELOW
1. Social class affects learning outcomes because the different socialization of children in different social classes reflects how those children act in the classroom and learn overall. According to Melvin Kohn’s study (1959), working-class families and middle-class families, although they have similar values, raise their children with different attitudes as a result of their socioeconomic status; but the way in which the children are raised has a significant impact when it comes to education. Working-class families put an emphasis on obedience, while middle-class families put an emphasis on motivation and personal responsibility, which reflects in the classroom. Kohn explains that “…working-class children may be docile and compliant, middle-class children may respond actively to teachers’ prompts for critical thinking and creativity” (Ballentine & Hammock 2017). This creates an imbalance in the education these children receive because, due to their responsiveness, the middle-class children are labeled as ‘smarter’ than the working-class children. Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social reproduction is similar to Kohn’s ideas and was founded through a study conducted in 1977. Bourdieu explains this unbalance through the idea of cultural capital, which is “…the symbolic, noneconomic assets that promote social mobility and success in school and the workplace” (Ballentine & Hammock 2017). Working-class families and middle-class families have different cultural capital, which provides an advantage for more privileged children because the education system favors the cultural capital of the privileged classes.
2. Learning outcomes are impacted by social class because children’s socialization in different social classes impacts how they behave in the classroom and how much they learn in general. According to Melvin Kohn’s study (1959), working-class families and middle-class families raise their children with different viewpoints despite having the same ideals. A lot depends on how the kids are raised in terms of education. For instance, there is an emphasis on motivation and self-discipline placed by middle-class families thus outweighing the emphasis on obedience that working-class families place and this is mirrored in the classroom. This is supported by Kohn’s statement “…working-class children may be docile and compliant, middle-class children may respond actively to teachers’ prompts for critical thinking and creativity” (Ballentine & Hammock 2017). This implies that middle-class kids are seen as “smarter” than working-class kids due to their attentiveness, which causes an imbalance in the education these students receive. Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of social reproduction was created through a 1977 study, much as Kohn’s beliefs. Pierre Bourdieu states “…the symbolic, noneconomic assets that promote social mobility and success in school and the workplace” (Ballentine & Hammock 2017) This goes to show that children from more privileged homes have an advantage over those from working-class and middle-class families because the educational system promotes the cultural capital of the privileged classes.
DISCUSSION 2 (PAGE 2)ANSWER THE QUESTIONS INDIVIDUALLY
The film, ‘The Divide’, showcases the effect of growing socioeconomic divide in US and UK on everyday lives of people Think about the impact on children, individuals, and families as a whole.
1) According to the film how does socioeconomic gap between the wealthy and the poor contribute to reproducing inequality of education, workforce, society as a whole. Use specific examples from the film to support your answer
2) The textbook readings show how socioeconomic backgrounds affect academic achievement in school and social mobility outside of schools. Citing examples from the film, power point lecture, and textbooks, explain how this may be the case.
FILM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giHS0nHVJRQ
