Impacts of Social Class on School Achievements

Impacts of Social Class on School Achievements

School achievement is usually a complex issue due to various aspects that are involved. If students fail or succeed in school, it is not a matter of one factor. There are several factors at play. However, it has been apparent that social class influences school achievement in various ways. It is a fact that there is a gap between upper-class, middle-class and working-class students.  This aspect has been backed by several researches conducted in the past.

Among the impacts of social class with regards to school achievement is the availability of adequate resources that make learning easier. Students coming from working-class families are usually characterized by some aspects of poverty. This means that it is quite difficult for them to afford all the necessary resources that would enable them to make great achievements in school. Among the resources included here are well-stocked libraries and part-time homeschooling. Regardless of whether a student is bright or not, lack of adequate resources will hamper their performance. They can only go up to a certain level, beyond which it becomes difficult to actualize. Just like other aspects of life, school achievement requires some nurturing for the desired resulted to be seen.

Poverty associated with the lower class students also prompt them to attend institutions that are not associated with great achievements. A good example is how most students found in public schools are from lower-class families. Such institutions have a high student population hence it becomes difficult to pay attention to the needs of each student at a time. For favorable school achievement of all the students involved, teachers need to give some attention to each student’s needs. This is because based on various biological or other factors; the students have different levels of comprehension. A classroom with a high number of students will not put this aspect into consideration. As a result, the achievements of most students will be hindered.

Social class also has an impact on the thoughts that students have for the better part of their school life. Students from different social groupings have had different experiences hence have different things to think about. Upper-class students do not have a lot of struggles when it comes to lifestyle. They can have access to almost everything that they desire. This means that they have peace of mind due to lack of insecurities. While in class, such students can concentrate easily and grasp whatever the teacher is passing around. This is a different story for students coming from lower-class families. There is a lot taking place in their families, and most of it is not desirable. The aspect of lacking many things that they desire usually seems to torment them. There are a lot of insecurities and worries. “Will I afford to pay the tuition fees?’’ “Are we going to be evicted due to house rent issues?” “How do my friends perceive me due to my background?” These and other many issues will be present in their thoughts even while in class. It becomes difficult for such students to make great achievements in schools due to the concentration levels. Such aspect ensures that there is an education gap between the upper and lower class students.

Home environment is also associated with social class and has a significant impact on school achievement. Many upper-class students are brought up in homes that prepare them for school in the best way possible. Children’s home environments tend to cultivate various characteristics that are relevant for school achievement. Among them are cognitive and verbal skills, values and attitudes, and knowledge and understanding. Students from the upper and middle class are more likely to attain more knowledge outside the class through access to cultural institutions (like museums), books, exploration of diverse environments and parental teaching. Knowledge gained through these exposures is very helpful to students when they are at school. Lower class students are disadvantaged when it comes to this regard. The aspect normally has a negative effect on their school achievement.

Home environment is also responsible for the attitudes that students develop towards education. Upper-class students are brought up in environments that uphold positive attitudes towards education. This is because family members have gained in one way or another through education. The situation is quite different for students emanating from lower class home environments.  Education might not be highly regarded since there is a high probability that most people there have not gone further with their studies. Even for those that would have wanted to proceed, they did not make it due to various constraints. This makes the attitude towards education somewhat negative. Certain comments like “we did not get much education, and we are still surviving” are likely to be rampant. The attitudes will be passed to the students that are currently at school and will demoralize them in one way or another. Their school achievements will be low as a result.

In conclusion, school achievement is affected by various factors, and social class can be considered among those factors. Students from upper and middles class families seem to be more privileged compared to students from lower-class.  Their lifestyles and general upbringing tend to have a significant influence on their school achievements.

 

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