Cultural Deprivation, Difference and Capital Theories

Some cultures are deficient

So some children are sent to school with substandard language, values and experience

Consequently, they are unable to attain the same standards as other children

Cultures are of equal value

However the education system only recognises a narrow range of cultures as legitimate

Children therefore underachieve as their culture does not match with that of the school

Powerful groups can have their culture defined as legitimate and it becomes dominant

Schools reflect this dominant culture, and thus devalue alternative backgrounds

Therefore students underachieve as they are not is possession of the dominant cultural capital