E DUCATION AND S OCIETY Social and Cultural Mobility

R ELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION, SOCIAL MOBILITY, AND STATUS Education Status Social Mobility

R ELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND STATUS

Upper ClassMiddle ClassLower Class SES information

R ELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND SOCIAL MOBILITY Impact of parents education level Parent education level and college enrollment

R ELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EDUCATION, SOCIAL MOBILITY, AND STATUS Education Status Social Mobility

T HE R OLE OF S CHOOLS Schools serve to sift and direct students by ability levels into different social strata to promote human capital Promote talented, smart, and socially and morally fit students Eliminate or redirect other students Status Student

T HE C OMPLEX R OLE OF S CHOOLS School are not in isolation Status Student Status

F RAMEWORK TO U NDERSTAND S CHOOLS AND S OCIAL S TATUS Human Social Cultural Academic Capital

H UMAN C APITAL Human capital is created by working with persons to produce in them skills and capabilities that make them more productive. Society benefits with human capital – investing in populace Educated populace for business development Purchase of consumer products Individuals gain higher wages and status Invest in future – children and education College going and parent income level

S CHOOLING AND H UMAN C APITAL Schools are the primary social institution that cultivate skills in individuals so that they can be productive members of society. What are some historical examples?

S CHOOLING AND H UMAN C APITAL Case example of remedial education Diverted Dreams – chapter 8

S OCIAL C APITAL Social capital refers to the intangible resources embedded within interpersonal relationships or social institutions. Social capital can exist in three major forms: obligations and expectations information channels social norms

S OCIAL C APITAL IN E DUCATION Parents' expectations and obligations for educating their children (need social with human capital) The network and connections between families whom the school serves The disciplinary and academic climate at school The cultural norms and values that promote student efforts

S OCIAL C APITAL IN E DUCATION Community School Family Student

C ULTURAL C APITAL Cultural capital, the collection of non-economic forces such as family background, social class, varying investments in and commitments to education, different resources, etc. which influence academic success. Three types of cultural capital: Embodied state – in individual Objectified state -- things which are owned (art, etc.) Institutionalized state – academic credentials or qualifications

C ULTURAL C APITAL Schools reproduce cultural capital Access to cultural resources (museums, books, etc) that provide information Perpetuation of dominant values Importance of the connection between home and school values Limits of schools for learning cultural capital Parents cultural capitalcultural capital

C ULTURAL C APITAL Case of the restaurant The Wire, season 4 episode 9

A CADEMIC C APITAL Academic capital is the level of intensity of experienced academic rigor. Course taking Study habits Language Knowledge about college process

A CADEMIC C APITAL Case of cultural curriculum The Wire

H OW EDUCATION REINFORCES CAPITAL Tracking Limiting and controlling access to schools – K-12 and higher ed Funding and resource disparities within and between schools Living the “American Dream” Lack of integration of social services Lack of learning cultural capital Apathetic teachers and administrators

H OW EDUCATION TRIES TO MEDIATE / ESTABLISH CAPITAL Education and social programs Integration of schools Distribution of state funding – per pupil amount Providing skills – literacy, vocational programs Workforce development offices and other services (career counseling)

H OW EDUCATION TRIES TO MEDIATE / ESTABLISH CAPITAL Financial aid – federal and institutional aid School activities – social networks and engagement Alumni support

W HY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR TEACHERS ? Student come to class with different forms/levels of capital Realize that students have complex lives – The WireThe Wire Provide resources but consider personal limitations Advocacy Engage student culture