Class Deprivation

Assess the different explanations posited by sociologists with regard to the phenome of working class underachievement.

(24 Marks)

There several theories used to explain the reasoning behind the underachievement of the working class. Sociologist such as Douglas found that material deprivation as a result of the circumstances of a family and the attitude of the parents, can result in a child underachieving. Whilst, others argue that the underachievement of working class pupils is down to cultural deprivation.

Many sociologist see material deprivation as the main cause of under-achievement see material deprivation as the man cause of underachievement. Douglas found that poor housing conditions such as overcrowding can result in a child underachieving in school, this is because they will be unable to study efficiently at home. Moreover, poor housing can also have a negative indirect effect on a child. For example issues of damp and overcrowding can result in illnesses and accidents which will effect a child’s performance in school effectively causing them to underachieve. Therefore, it is suggested that working class children usually underachieve due to their living conditions. Working class children usually also underachieve because their parents lack the financial funds needed to buy equipment that will help enhance their education. A lack of funds may also mean that children of a working class background often have to work part-time to support their studies, this was supported by Dan Finn who found that 75% of teenagers are doing paid work. Students doing part-time work make negatively affect their studies and cause them to underachieve.

Peter Mortimore and Geoff Whitty support the theory of material deprivation in explaining underachievement amongst the working class. They believe it has a greater effect and for this reason Peter Robinson believe that there should be great emphasis in tackling child poverty, which will essentially boost the achievement levels....