sues_budgie Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 I would be interested in hearing views on why kids from poorer families / areas do less than their better off conuterparts. An easy answer 1) Kids from middle class familys, on the whole have more stable familys. 2) Familys with better incomes, they can move to the areas where the best schools are 3) Kids from the inner city areas, have broken homes/familys - not good 4) In the middle class areas at the school, only one language is spoken - english, this makes it far easier for the teacher 5) In poorer areas, migrants are dumped in these areas, they attend the local schools. As a censequence, you may have up to 10 different langauges spoke in one classroom. This presents a nightmare for the teacher. The list could go on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helibish Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 My own take is that monetary factors (the ability to pay for tutors / support with other related activities ie studying Shakespeare so going to Stratford and visiting the Globe) do play a part in the more affluent areas but what plays a bigger significant part is that the lifes of children from less wealthy are often so much more of a struggle that school is just not the priority. If you live in a home where you have to prepare your own meal If you live in a home where the average bed time is 3.00 am If you live in a hime where you expected to "sort yourself out" If you live in a home where there are not enough beds to go round If you live in a home where there is constant distraction from TVs, loud music, If you live in a home where conversation is limited to "get up you lazy ...." If you live in a home where domestic violence is an issue If you live in a home where there are everychanging "friends" of mum/dad appearing in and out of your life then I guess school must just be so far down on the list of things that bother or worry you. which is why helibishs daughter could succeed - because I suspect her home was not like that. Quite right my home was warm, safe and at all times very positive. I would do the worrying but never allowed my daughter to know. I told her constantly to follow her dreams and never let anyone put you down. Most of all, treat everyone how you want them to treat you, no one is better or worse than you. Did this help? i really do not know but let me say she is a credit to herself she made her own choices. As a parent you can only guide, the rest is up to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna B Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Ok, let's talk about my daughter. She grew up on a council estate with me her mother a single parent family. I grew up on the same estate, one which now is currently being demolished. I did the best i could until she was old enough for me to return to work, she went to a large secondry school, then went on to study to get into uni she is now in her last year and she works part time to avoid any debt. Yes she knew kids that were disruptive at school and some that never went. She made her own choices and i brought her up with the best morals and to have respect. I also work fulltime as a manager and we have a comfortable life. So the point is life is what you make it, not where you live or waiting for someone to hand it to you. Don't be defensive. You have done an exceptional job. You prove that anyone from almost any circumstances can and do achieve well. But this thread is talking about majorities, and it's a fact that the majority that do well at school are from higher income groups, for all the reasons given. Without these advantages you have to work harder to achieve the same results and have the child on board too. Most parents want their child to do well but if the child gives in to peer pressure it is an uphill task. This is not so much a problem in the affluent leafy suburbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritPat Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 It isn't necessarily that obvious really. There are some pretty obvious reasons such as parents from academically successful backgrounds valuing education highly for their kids. Their households are also more likely to contain plenty of books. Parents who value education also tend to support their kids and schools more too. There are some confusing bits though. For example, broadband access is pretty universal now. In the school that I work in, 99% of parents say that they have broadband. You would expect that to empower everyone to learn more efficiently. Yet our most successful students tend to be from the more affluent households. I have arranged to move house and taken self defence measures, a move I consider necessary before mooting the next point. In general kids from prosperous areas are likely to be the progeny of successful parents, Britpat takes cover behind particularly substantial item of furniture, Successful parents are likely (not in all cases granted) to have succeeded educationally, Intelligence ( a necessary but not sufficient pre-requisite to academic success) , heritability of intelligence should be considered. Before the howling starts, I know that the genetics of intelligence is not well understood, I know that success at school is dependent on environmental as well as natural factors. Kids from prosperous areas may well have the advantage of a confluence of factors, Inherited intelligence and the environment provided by their successful progenitors. A point for consideration perhaps? Britpat peers cautiously from behind substantial item of furniture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritPat Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 An easy answer 1) Kids from middle class familys, on the whole have more stable familys. 2) Familys with better incomes, they can move to the areas where the best schools are 3) Kids from the inner city areas, have broken homes/familys - not good 4) In the middle class areas at the school, only one language is spoken - english, this makes it far easier for the teacher 5) In poorer areas, migrants are dumped in these areas, they attend the local schools. As a censequence, you may have up to 10 different langauges spoke in one classroom. This presents a nightmare for the teacher. The list could go on It presents a nightmare to the poor bloody natives too, the disruption caused by the language problems and discipline leads to poor British kids that are stranded at the school getting a poorer education despite the fact that coming from an already disadvantaged background, they need an optimal education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I think in Sheffield, we see the differences magnified because the more affluent areas got to keep their sixth forms. I think if the younger kids see the older kids staying on at school and then going to university, that's bound to raise their aspirations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espadrille Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I speak as a parent of 2 children. Some may say I am 'middle class.' I always beleive that i cant be as I was brought up in a working class environment. I worked hard, getting a job at the age of 16 and bought the first house when I was 24 and sold a beautiful house( the 2nd one) to move in to a catchment area with a good school. The one my kids would have gone to was in special measures although the area that we lived in ( meersbrook was lovely) I risked a lot ( got a bigger mortgage) and the move was disruptive for my son who is on the autistic spectrum but I thought it was worth the risk so they could have a better education. For my son going to a better school made no diffference. He went off the rails, and got in to all sorts of trouble despite having the opportunity to get on. For my daughter mixing with kids who work hard socialise and have a good life was the guiding light that she needed and is doing very well at school and taking 12 GCSEs. So growing up in a middle class environment isnt always the passport to succes. It is dependant on many other factors also. I do believe that the people they mix with is one of the most crucial factures especially if they are easily led. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boston Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 My parents both worked hard.We were raised in a good area there are 5 of us.We were raised in a 6 bedroom house however we went to the local secondary school (Newfield).The teachers were mostly great the problem pupils were big trouble causers they were mainly from Heeley etc the teachers did their best. I did my Gcse's kept my head down worked hard and became a success.My parents encouraged me constantly I even had a private tutor as did my siblings Who was a huge help. I graduated with a first from Sheffield uni. My sibling is doing his teaching degree whilst two are doing medical degree's and the youngest is currently in Year 9. My point is with parental encouragment there is nothing that cannot be achieved. I lived in Heeley and also had to attend Newfield, and have to say that the so called 'best years of your life' had to be spent avoiding trouble makers (who wernt all from Heeley incidently), and being a targeted for showing any interest in subjects or working hard. Thanks to my parents, and a few of the teachers who were excellent amongst much disruption, i left prepared for the world of work, and graduated with a BSc. What i cannot get my head around with regard to the parenting of some kids from less affluent backgrounds. If the parents are unemployed etc they do have more time to spend with their kids (than parents who have to work), and have the additional time to try to coach and generate lifelong learning and interest. I would love to have this oppurtunity to spend so much time with my own kids, but like many others i have to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey19 Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Parenting and peer pressure are 2 big factors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rupert_Baehr Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 My own take is that monetary factors (the ability to pay for tutors / support with other related activities ie studying Shakespeare so going to Stratford and visiting the Globe) do play a part in the more affluent areas ... Wouldn't the children who did that be somewhat disappointed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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