Hidden Curriculum and Processes Within Schools Produce Inequalities Between Children of Different Social Classes

Hidden Curriculum and Processes Within Schools 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, ...

... middle of paper ...

...here is no need to stay on. There is no point in

staying on if the jobs they will acquire don't involve any upgrades.

There are many reasons for the difference in educational attainment

between middle class and working class students. The hidden curriculum

and other processes within schools do contribute to this. In

particular, teachers' attitudes and the system of streaming are

probably the main school points that significantly make a difference

in social class education. However, it is unfair to just limit the

reasons to school factors. To make a reasonable conclusion, other

factors need to be considered. Some examples are home and living

conditions, and the cultures that the student is brought up with.

These other aspects also play a part in the difference between the two

social classes, and their education.