How schools are failing working-class children

Poor children are being left behind by the education system

As a working-class child, I always considered myself fortunate to have been accepted into a (free) school which ranked in the top 10%. I was “allowed” in because of my parent’s dedication to Christianity and their attendance of church — something which looking back, only formulates more questions.

I sometimes consider the “what ifs”, when it comes to my education. Would I have been accepted onto A-Levels? Would I have got into University? Who knows. One thing is for sure, I never felt like I belonged. Whether it was feeling ashamed on own-clothes day, not being able to go on their expensive school trips, or not living close to any of my middle-class friends.

The reason I bring this up now is because of emails that have been sent out during the pandemic, from my former school. These essentially have demonised the children who have not been reaching their standards during the pandemic, and also told parents that they need to ensure their children have their own laptop. This completely singles out children from low-income families, dysfunctional homes, and those with learning difficulties.

The truth is, I was always lucky to be at this school, even if it was never designed for me. Many working-class children are not “honoured” with the opportunity to go to a well-performing school, and become a victim of an attainment gap which is damaging poor children.

CentreForum revealed that white, working-class children (specifically boys) are performing one of the worst academically. There can be a discussion around culture, privilege, and parenting here — all of which do need to be studied so that all children can excel in school.

Unfortunately, studying into identity politics and generational unlearning will take time. Working-class kids who are being left behind, need help now. This attainment gap cannot be ignored, and demonising white working-class parents will only create a further gap.

While parenting plays a part in affluence, education arguably plays an even larger part. We’ve all heard stories about that one exceptional teacher who believed in the “troubled” child or even experienced something similar ourselves. It’s important to know that these are the exceptions, most children from low income or dysfunctional families are offered very little support or understanding, let alone sympathy or respect. The truth is, there is a lack of understanding from teachers when it comes to poor children.

Jessica Calarco observed classes and interviewed parents for her book, Negotiating Opportunities: How the Middle Class Secures Advantages in School. In which, she observed that, very often, a teacher’s own middle-class inclinations disadvantage working-class children. For this reason, they are more likely to give middle-class children extensions on deadlines, and extra help on school work.

Studies have also looked into the “Hidden Curriculum”, this refers to the unspoken values, norms, and behaviours which are unintentionally being taught in schools. Usually, this teaches middle-class children about negotiation and working-class children about compliance.

While middle-class children are taught about success, working-class children are taught about character building. In a socio-economic climate which correlates this kind of character to minimum wage jobs, it’s no surprise why so many poor children remain in the working-class cycle as they grow up.

This hidden curriculum teaches children that in order to gain a decent job, you may have to water-down their character and personal integrity by treating personal relationships as transactional. Working-class culture focuses heavily on relationships and loyalty — something which, infamously, does not go hand in hand with money and business.

There are mixed feelings on the working-class community as a whole, despite systematic oppression of the lower classes being acknowledged in research papers. One thing we can all agree on; it is not the children’s fault.

So, why does the government have to be pressured into giving children food? Why can educational establishments not acknowledge that working-class children cannot get help with their homework? That their parents can’t afford extra tutoring? They don’t have the money for textbooks and literature? It’s a system that continually fails them.

We need to focus on society as a whole. Teachers and parents (poor or rich) are all people, that are trying their best. Educational attainment should be filled with equal opportunities, this means focusing on the injustices of “catchment areas”, and the extreme costs of education to poor parents. As a society, we should dismantle the idea that kids have to choose between good grades and good character, with this we can attack the ever-growing inequalities with classes, that are failing and damaging working-class children every day.