Evaluate the arguments and evidence for the view that poverty and material deprivation are the most important barriers to educational attainment. (20)

... Evaluate the arguments and evidence for the view that poverty and material deprivation are the most important barriers to educational attainment. (20) It is assumed by some people that there is a major relationship between social class and education, i.e. the higher class the child the better the educational achievement. Many of these people assume that poverty and material deprivation are the main barriers. Douglas, a sociologist who also believes that out-school factors such as poverty and material deprivation affect the child's educational attainment, has done a study to prove this. Douglas examined the careers of 5,362 British born children. He followed them through primary school and secondary school up to the age of 16. He found that the length of stay in education was related to social class, as the middle classes stayed longer in education. Middle class parents were seen to express greater interest in their child's education.

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