Social Class Differences

Peer Influences?researchers say some low-SES students become part of

resistance culture, these kinds of kids see it as "selling out" or

trying to act like you’re from the middle class if you make it in school,

usually reject behaviors that would make them successful, i.e. cooperating with

others, studying, coming to class, etc.

Tracking?sometimes low-SES students are thought of as low ability so put

into "low-ability"or "general" classes where there’s passive

learning, lower levels of knowledge being taught, teacher dominated,

memorization, this limits their academic ability and life chances

Childrearing Styles?low-SES kids more often than other kids do not live in

a home environment that gives them a head start in school, studies show middles

class others are more likely to talk, give verbal guidance, help kids understand

circumstances, make plans, encourage kids to solve problems themselves, this

gives kids more knowledge and self-confidence coming into school

Home Environment and Resources?research shows low-SES and high-SES kids

both make comparable gains in reading and math while school is in session,

low-SES lose more ground during summer because of examples states above and

because middle and upper class kids go to museums and libraries more than lower

class kids

Ethnic and Racial Differences

Ethnicity?used to refer to groups that are characterized in terms of a

common nationality, culture, or language, i.e. geography, religion, race, etc.

Race?category composed of men and women who share biologically transmitted

traits that are defined as socially significant, such as skin color, depending

on traits you measure, there are between 3 and 300 races

Minority Groups?today means group of people who receive unequal or

discriminatory treatment, actually should be the numerical minority compared to

the total population

Changing Demographics: Cultural Differences

By 2020, half the population will be from African American, Asian, Latino or

other ethnic groups, culture is like an ice berg?1/3 is visible (marriage

traditions, costumes, holidays) while the rest is hidden and unknown (biases,

beliefs, ideas), cultural conflicts are usually over the hidden differences, for

example some cultures do not look respected figures in the eyes when spoken too

and that can be seen as rude to some people

Ethnic and Racial Differences in School Achi