Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Research Paper

First Advisor

Joyce Kaufman

Second Advisor

Anne Sebanc

Abstract

The research conducted evaluates the differences and similarities between two local elementary schools located in Whittier, California that are in different socioeconomic brackets. Implications for how the differences impact the students will also be discussed. Fieldwork was completes for a total of twenty hours for each school site. The criteria examined within the working class school and the middle/upper class schools include: the school layout, facilities, neighboring community, teaching methods, and interactions with development. The factors within the child’s macro- and micro- systems provide answers for how social class affects development. The macro-system is he prior experiences and knowledge that the child learns about the world before coming into the school environment. In focuses on the community, family, and the child’s frame of reference, which encompasses where he/she receives the educational expectations and support. The macro-system is the prior knowledge that makes up the child’s cultural capital. The micro-system includes criteria at the school, which includes the school’s economic factors, parental education, teacher’s style, and how they affect the educational experience. The micro-system is what this research paper focuses on to see if social reproduction is evident, and how it is happening. Evaluating the teaching methods, expectations, tracking, and creation of knowledge within the classroom contributes to the outcome of the students’ education. Results show that the low socioeconomic school showed more discipline-oriented environment that directly taught the students to value authority and rules. The middle/high socioeconomic school allowed for more personal independence and critical thinking that valued creativity. Overall the low SES Students were exposed to more risk factors and middle/upper SES school had more protective factors for their development.

Comments

WSP Major: Child Development

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