Assess the view that working-class children under-achieve because they are culturally deprived

Social class is ‘a division of society based on social and economic status’ This hierarchy classifies the working-class as those who are employed for wages generally in skilled labour occupations. The term ‘Cultural Deprivation’ is an external factor outside of the education system in having a negative impact on a child’s success, which generally occurs within working-class families as of reasons which will be further explained in this essay. Those who are culturally deprived tend to have not acquired basic values and skills which are vital for educational success, potentially due lack of economic wealth, poor attitude to the institution of education and an in-adequate upbringing . Several sociologist theorists argue for and against the view ‘under-achievement is caused by cultural deprivation in working-class families‘ as there’s evidence that other factors contribute to educational under-achievement in working class children also.

Cultural deprivation comes in three aspects during primary socialisation, including lack of intellectual development, poor language skills and not having the correct attitudes and values to drive them to their success. A working-class family generally can not provide educational toys or books which enable intellectual progression, and therefore their children score lower than middle class children on tests of ability as shown by Douglas (1984). Working-class mothers are less likely to read with their children, and as found by Douglas and Basil Bernstein they additionally don’t choose toys that have an educational element in comparison to middle class mothers who do. As a result children don’t get a ‘head start’ in their education, where they have to grasp the basics before learning anything more complex, whilst doing GCSE’s for example.