Explanations of Educational Inequality

1. Explanations of Educational Inequality Chapter 9

2. Conflicting Theories of Educational Inequality • Functionalist vision of meritorcratic selection of the best and brightest regardless of family background…schooling produces unequal results based on individual differences and unequal educational opportunities • Must insure the elimination of structural barriers to educational success and provide all groups a fair chance to compete in the educational marketplace

3. Conflicting Theories of Educational Inequality • See the role of schooling to reproduce rather than eliminate inequality, that educational outcomes are largely based on family background is consistent with Conflict Theory • Concerned with both equality of opportunity and equality of results or at least significantly reduce differences

4. Interactionist Theory • One must understand the interaction of families and schools in order to understand the factors explaining academic success and failure • Functionalists tend to favor out of school explanations, conflict theorists tend to favor in-school explanations • Multidimensional approach: societal, institutional, interactional, intrapsychic variables

5. Student-Centered Explanations • Economic disadvantaged children attend inferior schools…but…research suggests there are far more significant differences in academic performance among students in the same school than among students in different schools • Coleman Report suggested factors of difference has more to do with the students themselves, their families, culture, makeup

6. Genetic Differences • The genetic or biological argument is the most controversial • Arthur Jensen (1969) argued that unequal performance due to genetic differences in intelligence • Preponderance of research suggests that the most significant factor affecting intelligence is social • The Bell Curve (1994) Herrnstein and Murray made a similar argument

7. Cultural Deprivation Theories • Argued that students came to school without the requisite intellectual and social skills necessary for school success • Working class and nonwhite families seen as lacking the cultural resources, having a deprived culture and inappropriate values for success • Project Head Start based on this theory

8. Cultural Difference Theories • Attribute cultural differences to social forces such as poverty, racism, discrimination and unequal life chances • Tension between standard English required for school success and “slang-English” • Linguistic codes are at the heart of unequal power relations • Subordinate groups often see little reason to embrace the culture of schooling…labor market barriers exist regardless of schooling

9. School-Centered Explanations • School financing…generally vast differences between districts • Inequality of funding not a moral issue alone but also a political issue…does the political will exist to close the monetary gaps between schools

10. Effective School Research • A climate of high expectations • Strong and effective leadership • Accountability processes • Monitoring of student learning • A high degree of time on task • Flexibility to experiment and try new things

11. Between-School Differences • School climate…authoritarian or more student-centered • Different school environments allow students to dream different dreams, different life expectations

12. Within-School Differences • Curriculum and Ability Grouping • Functionalist perspective—tracking is valuable tool if it is fair and meritocratic • Conflict theorists see tracking based on ascriptive characteristics reproducing inequalities • “Tracking has a significant effect on educational attainment at both elementary and secondary levels.”

13. Gender and Schooling • Second wave of feminism began in 1960s and challenged the view that biology is destiny…differences between men and women more cultural than biological • Gilligan sees women as valuing connectedness and caring rather than Kohlberg’s justice orientation…different not less than…schools tend to reinforce stereotypes through hidden curriculum